"Alligators and Crocodiles"

Crocodile Cracks Its Shell

Female crocs lay their eggs in clutches of 20 to 60. After the eggs have incubated for about three months, the mother opens the nest and helps her young out of their shells.

Close-Up of an American Alligator

Alligators' heads are shorter and wider than crocodiles'. Although heavy and slow on land, they can ambush their prey from the water by lunging at speeds of 30 miles (48 kilometers) per hour.

Close-up of a Nile Crocodile


Nile crocodiles are the largest crocodilians in Africa, sometimes reaching 20 feet (6 meters) long.

American Alligator Basking on a RiverbankSaved from the brink of extinction, the American alligator now thrives in its native habitat: the swamps and wetlands of the southeastern United States.

American Crocodile Emerging From the Water..
Critically endangered, the prehistoric-looking American crocodile struggles to survive in pockets of shrinking habitat.

Saltwater Crocodile
The largest crocodilians on Earth, saltwater crocs, or "salties," are excellent swimmers and have often been spotted far out at sea.

Gator on a Log
American alligators are found in freshwater coastal wetlands across the southeastern United States, from Louisiana to the Carolinas.

Young Nile Crocodile in Shallow Water
Mother Nile crocodiles lay their eggs in a buried nest, opening it when high-pitched squeaks are heard from within. The sex of baby crocs is dependent upon the temperature of the nest rather than genetics.