Alligatoridae
| Alligators and Caimans Fossil range: Cretaceous - Recent |
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| American Alligator | |||||||||||
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Alligators and Caimans make up the second largest family of the crocodilians, Alligatoridae. There are 4 genera and about 7 known species of Alligatorids. Alligatorids range in size depending on species. The Chinese alligator (Aligator sinensis) is usually about 1.5 m (5 ft) while the American Alligator (A. mississippiensis) is usually 4 m (13 ft). The largest American alligator was 5.79 m (19 ft) long. The Black Caiman of the Amazon can reach as much as 6 m (20 ft).
Alligatorids live in the southern United States, Central America, northern South America and near the Yangzee river in China.
[change] Alligators vs crocodiles
There are several differences between alligators and crocodiles. Alligators have shorter and wider snouts. They prefer fresh water to saltwater. Crocodiles have a gland that removes much of the salt. Alligators do not have this gland. In alligators, the fourth tooth of their lower jaw fits into a pit in the upper jaw. In crocodilians this tooth fits into a groove on the outside of the jaw. Alligators are also less aggressive than crocodilids. Usually only the largest of the species are a threat to humans.
[change] Species
- ORDER Crocodilia
- Family Alligatoridae
- Genus Leidyosuchus (extinct)
- Genus Deinosuchus (extinct)
- Subfamily Alligatorinae
- Genus Albertochampsa (extinct)
- Genus Chrysochampsa (extinct)
- Genus Hassiacosuchus (extinct)
- Genus Navahosuchus (extinct)
- Genus Ceratosuchus (extinct)
- Genus Allognathosuchus (extinct)
- Genus Hispanochampsa (extinct)
- Genus Arambourgia (extinct)
- Genus Procaimanoidea (extinct)
- Genus Wannaganosuchus (extinct)
- Genus Alligator
- Alligator prenasalis (extinct)
- Alligator mcgrewi (extinct)
- Alligator olseni (extinct)
- Chinese Alligator, Alligator sinensis
- Alligator mefferdi (extinct)
- American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis
- Subfamily Caimaninae
- Genus Necrosuchus (extinct)
- Genus Eocaiman (extinct)
- Genus Paleosuchus
- Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman, Paleosuchus palpebrosus
- Smooth-fronted Caiman, Paleosuchus trigonatus
- Genus Purussaurus (extinct)
- Genus Mourasuchus (extinct)
- Genus Orthogenysuchus (extinct)
- Genus Caiman
- Yacare Caiman, Caiman yacare
- Spectacled Caiman, Caiman crocodilus
- Rio Apaporis Caiman, C. c. apaporiensis
- Brown Caiman, C. c. fuscus
- Caiman lutescans (extinct)
- Caiman sorontans (extinct) - Not reported in the literature, probably a nomen nudum
- Broad-snouted Caiman, Caiman latirostris
- Genus Melanosuchus
- Melanosuchus fisheri (extinct)
- Black Caiman, Melanosuchus niger
- Family Alligatoridae
