What is the difference between a crocodile and an alligator?

Alligators and crocodiles are related reptiles, but their faces, teeth, color, homes, and salt tolerance differ. Alligators usually have broader snouts and hide their lower teeth when their mouths close; crocodiles often have slimmer snouts, visible lower teeth, and do better in salty water.

A map helps too: wild alligators mainly live in the U.S. Southeast plus a small region of China, while crocodiles range across warmer places on several continents. Southern Florida is unusual because both can be found there, sharing the same wetlands.