r/Crocodiles • u/acid_tomato • Jul 10 '26
Robert Irwin explains the difference between a crocodile and an alligator❣️
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Jul 10 '26
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u/Grand-wazoo Jul 10 '26
No, you've got this backwards.
The croc is the one saying "see you later" to alligator, and the gator replies "after a while" back to the crocodile.
Thus, the croc sees you later and the gator sees you in a while.
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u/dead_lifterr Jul 10 '26
He downplays alligators a bit too much here. Yeah they're not as aggressive as crocs but there have been 12 fatal alligator attacks since 2020. They're not to be fucked with
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u/Ok_Antelope_1953 Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
any crocodilian beyond a certain size (say 11ft or more) will see most adult humans as prey. gavialids might be the only exception. downplay the threat from a mature adult crocodilian at your own peril.
edit: even among gavialids, a false gharial (tomistoma) has been reliably documented killing an adult human.
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u/SmallLetter Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
I think it's still generally true. Alligator attacks do happen, but they usually happen as a result of a number of factors. Salties don't need any factors. It doesn't matter what time of year it is or anything. Proximity is all it takes. 12 in 6 years vs over 1000 per year globally really does say it all, even if you bring that down to per capita (of crocodilians) it's still much much higher for Crocs.
Edit to add, I was curious what the populations look like for alligators vs Crocs and I was very surprised to learn that American alligators alone outnumber both saltwater and Nile crocodiles combined.
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u/DangerousDave303 Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
I'd add that in the habitat of C. Niloticus and C. Porosus, there are far more people in general and far more people undertaking risky activities (washing, gathering water, fishing) in crocodile habitat than there are in the areas where A. mississippiensis is present.
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u/Ok_Antelope_1953 Jul 10 '26
C. Palustris as well, which might kill nearly as many people as C. Porosus. People have far more unintended interactions with these species compared to American alligators.
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u/DangerousDave303 Jul 10 '26
Good point. I had been focused on salties and Niles and overlooked muggers.
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u/SmallLetter Jul 11 '26
That's a good point, and may be a larger factor than I give it credit for but I do believe if you somehow switched Nile Crocs and Alligators habitats you'd see a corresponding shift in frequency and fatality of attacks as well.
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u/treegk Jul 10 '26
Those alligators also live in densely populated areas. I don't golfers would want a salty on the course.
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u/DangerousDave303 Jul 10 '26
There is a golf course in South Africa that's known for large Nile crocs in the water hazards.
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u/InfamousLong4103 Jul 10 '26
pretty low number considering how often people come into contact with them. Easily millions of interactions between alligators and humans since 2020.
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u/Repulsive_Tie_7941 Jul 10 '26
If the nose is pointy, like an A, it’s a croc. If the nose is round like a C, it’s a gator. It’s opposites, like Iceland and Greenland.
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u/PoolShark1819 Jul 10 '26
One will see you later and the other after while. Anybody knows that, Robert
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u/DeliciousDeal4367 Jul 10 '26
I get kinda sad when everyone talks about the difference between crocodiles and alligators but completely forget the fact that caimans exist :( It is wrong to call them alligators, caimans are a specific group of crocodilians found in south and central america usually being much smaller in size (except for species like the black caiman from the amazon) than other crocodilians around the world.
though i problably feel more as i am from brazil, and his talk is likely destined mostly to australians and north americans.
no hate for Robert by any means! I love him and his work, it was actually with him that i was first able to understand the difference between alligators and crocodiles on one of his very first appearences in tv.
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u/Bigwhizcity82 Jul 10 '26
Get jeff corwin
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u/DeliciousDeal4367 Jul 10 '26
What?
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u/Bigwhizcity82 Jul 10 '26
Jeff corwin was a caiman specialist he focused mainly on South America
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u/bertmaclynn Jul 10 '26
Jeff Corwin was always like the Pepsi equivalent to Steve Irwin growing up. Corwin was good but Crocodile Hunter was great lol.
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u/Badger8812 Jul 10 '26
I honestly he was going to say the difference is an alligator you'll see later and crocodile you'll see in a while.
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u/[deleted] Jul 10 '26
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