Alligator

Caiman

The alligators possess long and rounded snouts, having upward-facing nostrils at the end. It helps them breathe properly while the rest of their body is underwater. The young alligator possesses bright yellow-colored stripes on the tails. In contrast, the adults have dark-colored stripes on the tails. 

The caimans are green, gray, and dull brown-colored animals that help them keep camouflaged during hunting. All caimans possess a bony ride, extending from the eyes down their snouts. Instead, they also have large-sized eyes that help them hunt at night. 

Alligators are present in various countries, including China and the United States. These animal species live in freshwater, lakes, marshes, and slow-moving rivers. In addition, the alligator can tolerate saltwater only for a shorter period as it does not possess saltwater glands.

Caimans are present in different countries throughout the world, including Central and South America and Mexico. In addition, the caiman lives in swamps, marshes, lakes, and Mangrove Rivers. There is scaly skin in the caiman; hence has a nocturnal existence.

The alligators possess a body length of about three to five meters long. Half of its length consists of a strong tail. The male alligator with 2.6 meters body size is more giant than the female alligator with a size of about 3.4 meters. They weigh up to 1,000 pounds. The males weigh between 227 and 272 kilograms. In contrast, females have a much smaller weight.  

The average size of caimans is approximately between 43 and 197 inches. Caiman being the largest species in the world, is about 20 feet long. The scope for black caiman is different. These small-sized crocodilians have an average weight of about 13 to 88 pounds. In contrast, one of the other caiman species weighs up to 1,100 pounds.

Alligators tend to eat various species that are quickly accessible and abundant in quantity. The diet of juvenile alligators consists of small fish, insects, amphibians, and other invertebrates.  On the other hand, adults eat birds, turtles, small mammals, rough fish, and snakes.

Caimans also require proper food to survive, like other animals. The caiman attacks various animal species such as perch, piranhas, larger fish, catfish, crustaceans, insects, frogs, small fish, and other invertebrates. They sometimes eat different food, including caiman.

Alligators’ teeth are not sharp; they are dull and relatively blunt. They do not use their teeth to rend flesh chunks from large-sized prey. These animals also cannot chew because of their massive jaw muscles. Despite all these facts, the alligator possesses a variety of teeth to catch slippery prey such as birds and fish. 

The largest caiman species possess about 72 to 76 teeth. In contrast, the smallest caiman species have almost 78 to 82 teeth. In addition, there are approximately five teeth on each maxilla, 13 to 14 on each maxilla, and about 18 to 19 on each dentary. It gives them a real teeth count between 72 and 76 teeth. 

Alligators tend to move on land using two types of locomotion called high walk and sprawl. As a result, they sneak up on their prey in the water. Furthermore, these animals are excellent swimmers than runners. 

Caimans are considered well-adapted for swimming rather than walking on land. Their legs are not used in swimming. However, they propel themselves and move their tails side to side during swimming. 

Alligators, being predators, are nocturnal. It means they are primarily active at night instead during the day. They used to lie at the edge of water during the day, sunning themselves. The alligator does not show aggressive behavior towards humans, but it may differ depending on conditions. Their attacks involve repeated bites. 

Like alligators, caimans are also nocturnal and are more active at night than during the day. They spend their daytime submerged in burrows they dig into the waterways’ banks or water. These animals don’t make close bonds with humans and can bite on aggression. Therefore, they are not called handy pets.

The alligators communicate with each other by slapping the water. They are considered chatty reptiles. Their lives get started by chirping for the help of their mothers as they grow and push themselves out of the eggs. The little ones communicate with each other using various sounds, including bellows, hisses, and rumbles. 

The caimans use a variety of vocalizations to communicate with each other. Their young ones use other grunting and squeaking sounds; in contrast, the adults may hiss, growl, and grunt. For instance, caiman will emit a loud hiss on being threatened. Most caiman animals, hatchlings make sounds such as quacks and grunts. 

The alligators live for a specific time like other animals existing on the earth. For instance, the alligator can live for almost 50 years in the wild; and about 70 years or even older in captivity. 

The caimans also have a specific lifespan to live, like other animals. For instance, they possess an average lifespan of 30 to 40 years in the wild, while in captivity for about 60 to 70 years. 

There are many predators of alligators, including bears, otters, hogs, and raccoons. The juveniles are preyed on by fish, wading birds, and other significant predators. 

There are various animals that attack caimans. For instance, their predators include humans. They have been hunted for multiple purposes, such as skin and meat.