More info: American alligators inhabit a wide range of habitats in the Southeastern United States and consume nearly any prey that comes within range. They are most likely to be seen in Florida and Louisiana, where they live in rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, bayous, and marshes.
The American alligator has a large, dark coloured, slightly rounded body and thick limbs. Crocodiles are grey-green or olive-green in colour and have more slender snouts than the alligator.
Alligators and crocodiles are 10-15 feet in length and up to 1,000 pounds fully grown, with females smaller than males. Alligators may live between 30 to 50 years and crocodiles 60 to 70 years.
South Florida is the only place where both crocodiles and alligators are found. American alligators occur in Florida, southern Texas, Louisiana and parts of North and South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. American crocodiles are found in southern Florida, the Caribbean, southern Mexico and along the Central American coast south to Venezuela. Both species are found in freshwater wetland areas.