I think one easy way to remember is if you're somewhere where either one resides, you'll know about it.
this post was submitted on 11 Aug 2025
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I keep hearing that people “keep asking ai” when I google something it gives me an ai rundown I didn’t ask for. Am I being counted as the number of people who are “asking ai?” Cause I don’t think that’s fair
Alligator: U-shaped snout.
Crocodile: V-shaped snout.
I'm glad the Romans never had to deal with the difference though, since alligators are only found in the Americas [edit: and in the Yangtze River basin]. Otherwise this explanation would still fly over their heads. ("V? U? SIMILE SVNT, FVNGE PVTRIDE!")
alligators are only found in the Americas.
And China. Specifically the lower Yangtze River basin.
https://www.marylandzoo.org/animal/chinese-alligator/
I went looking for pictures, and now I want one as a pet.
Fixed - thanks!
So the way to remember which is which is to first know that crocodiles are found in what used to be Ancient Rome and their snout looks like they could write it with their letters. Got it.
"Help, I've been bitten by a poisonous snake"
pushes up glasses "I think you'll find that the snake is venomous, not poisonous"
"Good thing you didn't eat it."
Yep. Cedric was an idiot.
That's a crocodile, they have pointy faces. Aligators are the ones with the wide snouts.
Which is weird because "alligator" starts with an A, which is pointy, while "crocodile" starts with a C, which is wide. This is a conspiracy to confuse the masses.
The Lizard People were just a front put up by our true archosaur rulers.
So alligators are the ones that look like ducks. Got it.
Someone call Kirk Cameron!
Crocodiles are the ones that eat full-grown adults.
I laugh when people think I should be scared of the alligators around here. Only time I've seen them, they were hauling ass away from me. :)
No, not going to redneck into a lake full of 'em, but they're mostly wussies, like most other wild animals.
Crocodiles? When I first took my Filipino wife kayaking on the local swamp, "Are the crocodiles here?" "Nah, no crocodiles."
Yeah big gators will rip off your arm and can absolutely kill you... but they don't really hunt you intentionally and will much rather be left alone. Crocs though? We're on the menu
Just say something like "big scaly pointy toothed thingy"