They would have been fucked if it was a crocodile. American alligators are usually super chill and aren’t a problem so long as you aren’t actively antagonizing them. Crocodiles, meanwhile, are colossal assholes that are always looking to fuck up someone’s day.
There’s also American crocodiles, which are very shy and reclusive as well. If it was a saltwater or Nile croc though, yeah, it would have made a point of ruining their day.
The alligator/crocothing was really confused
Your first guess was correct. Wide, blunt snout gives it away. Crocodiles- skinny, toothy snout.
They would have been fucked if it was a crocodile. American alligators are usually super chill and aren’t a problem so long as you aren’t actively antagonizing them. Crocodiles, meanwhile, are colossal assholes that are always looking to fuck up someone’s day.
There’s also American crocodiles, which are very shy and reclusive as well. If it was a saltwater or Nile croc though, yeah, it would have made a point of ruining their day.
American crocodilians are chill
Easy way to remember: an alligator’s snout is rounded like the C in Crocodile, and a crocodile’s snout is pointed like the A in Alligator.
This does not seem easy
If it looks like a Crocodile it’s an Alligator and if it looks like an Alligator it’s a Crocodile. Easy.
I tend to tell the difference by which one I will see later vs. which one I will see in a while.