Description
Alligators are closely related to crocodiles. Alligators have broad heads and rounded snouts; crocodiles, triangular-shaped heads and pointed snouts. Both of the enlarged teeth on each side of the crocodile's lower jaw are plainly visible when the mouth is closed. In the alligator, however, these teeth fit into pits in the upper jaw and are not visible when the mouth is closed.
The American alligator ranges in length from 6 to 19 feet (1.8 to 5.8 m) and weighs 100 to 600 pounds (45 to 270 kg). Males are usually much larger than females. The Chinese alligator grows to about 6 feet in length.
An alligator has a long, thick tail; four short legs; and large, powerful jaws. The eyes, nostrils, and ears (which are behind the eyes, hidden under flaps of skin) are on the top of the snout. Alligators often float with only the nostrils, eyes, and ears above water.
The tough skin is made up of small, leathery plates. Only the skin of the belly and sides, which is free of underlying bony material, is used commercially. An adult is brownish-black to black with a white to yellowish-white belly. The young are black with yellow crossbands.
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