What animals are in the crocodilian family?

How many different types of crocodiles are there?

Currently there are 23 different types of crocodile species have been identified and classified in the reptile order – Crocodilia. The American alligator is a giant crocodilian reptile endemic to the Southeastern United States. Living in the bodies of freshwater, the American alligator is slightly larger than the Chinese alligator.

What is the Order of Crocodilia?

The order Crocodilia includes the true crocodiles (family Crocodylidae ), the alligators and caimans (family Alligatoridae ), and the gharial and false gharial (family Gavialidae ). Although the term ‘crocodiles’ is sometimes used to refer to all of these, crocodilians is a less ambiguous vernacular term for members of this group.

What family does a crocodile belong to?

Crocodiles belong to the reptile family, which also includes snakes, turtles, and lizards. They live in swamps, rivers, marshes, and other warm water areas.

How can you distinguish a crocodile from the rest?

These gigantic reptiles can be differentiated from the rest by their triangular head, which tapers towards the tip of the snout. Also, their upper and lower teeth are visible when they close their mouths. Some representative species of true crocodile are as follows:

Are alligators and crocodiles related?

Crocodiles and Alligators belong to the Order Crocodilia which is a large order of reptiles that have been around for approximately 84 million years. Crocodiles are the closest living relatives to birds. The following lists the current families of Crocodilians.

What is the clade of crocodiles?

Members of the order’s total group, the clade Pseudosuchia, appeared about 250 million years ago in the Early Triassic period, and diversified during the Mesozoic era. The order Crocodilia includes the true crocodiles (family Crocodylidae ), the alligators and caimans (family Alligatoridae ), and the gharial and false gharial (family Gavialidae ).

How can you tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile?

One way to tell the difference between alligators and crocodiles is by looking at their teeth. Crocodiles have a tooth that sticks out over the upper lip when their mouths are closed, while an alligator’s teeth are only visible when its mouth is open [source: San Diego Zoo ].

How to differentiate between the different types of reptiles?

Differentiating between the different groups of reptiles may be easy, but distinguishing between a species can be extremely difficult. Read the tips listed below and learn about how to identify reptiles. Appearance The various types of reptiles have more differences between them than similarities.

What is the difference between a reptile and a turtle?

Appearance The various types of reptiles have more differences between them than similarities. However, a reptile is characterized by its scaled skin. Turtles and tortoises can be identifying by their distinctive shell. Lizards are four-legged animals with tails and either sleek or crusted scales.

How are crocodiles related to other reptiles?

Crocodilians (crocs, alligators, gharials, and caimans) are only distantly related to other reptiles. In fact, they are far more closely related to birds! Birds, dinosaurs, and crocodilians belong to a group called the “ Archosaurs ” or “ruling reptiles.”

Is a crocodile bigger than an alligator?

In fact the Australian Saltwater crocodile is the world’s largest living reptile and would have rivalled some types of dinosaurs in size. Both reptiles can reach massive sizes, but crocodiles are normally bigger when you compare a croc vs alligator.

Are crocodiles and alligators amphibians?

Crocodiles and alligators are very similar to amphibians but hey are not termed under amphibians. In fact they are a part of the reptile family. They are the larger reptiles in this family.

What is the clade including dinosaurs and birds?

Amonophyletic definition of the clade including the above groups would also include dinosaurs and birds, since the common ancestor of all reptiles is also the common ancestor of birds and dinosaurs, as discussed below.

What are the characteristics of an alligator?

Alligators’ main distinguishing feature is their wide, U-shaped snouts, which help them crack through tough shells of prey. When alligators close their mouths, usually only teeth from the top part of their mouths are visible.

How can you tell a crocodile from an alligator?

How to Identify a Crocodile. One of the main differences between alligators and crocodiles is their color. While alligators appear dark in complexion, crocodiles are usually a lighter brown, green, or gray. Unlike alligators, crocodile snouts are long, narrow, and pointed (or “V-shaped”).

What is the difference between a crocodile snout and alligator snout?

Unlike alligators, crocodile snouts are long, narrow, and pointed (or “V-shaped”). These snouts are great for cracking through the variety of prey that crocodiles around the world eat.

What are the major aspects to differentiate between amphibians and reptiles?

1. What are the major aspects to differentiate between amphibians and reptiles? The major difference between amphibians and reptiles are – amphibians can breathe both through lungs and gills and exhibits external fertilisation, whereas reptiles can only breathe through lungs and reproduce through internal fertilisation. 2.

What is the difference between a tortoise and a turtle?

Tortoises have more rounded and domed shells where turtles have thinner, more water-dynamic shells. Turtle shells are more streamlined to aid in swimming. One major key difference is that tortoises spend most of their time on land and turtles are adapted for life spent in water.

Are crocodiles more closely related to birds or reptiles?

Many scientists argue that crocodiles are actually more closely related to birds than they are to other reptiles, since birds share a common ancestor with crocodiles.

How big can a crocodile get?

The American croc can reach a length of about 17 feet, while the maximum length for an American alligator is 13 to 14 feet. Finally, you should try and look at the shape of the snout and the jaw.

Do crocodiles hold their own against alligators?

American crocodiles more than hold their own against Alligators, usually forcing the other away. Alligators tend to be less aggressive than crocodiles.

Are frogs amphibians or mammals?

Any animal (eg, crocodile, hippo, frog and capybara) that can live in water and on land may be described as being AMPHIBIOUS, but only frogs, toads, caecilians, newts and salamanders are AMPHIBIANS.