FAMILY:
ALLIGATORIDAE

A. mississippiensis
A. sinensis
C. crocodilus
C. c. apaporiensis
C. c. fuscus
C. latirostris
C. yacare
M. niger
P. palpebrosus
P. trigonatus

FAMILY:
CROCODYLIDAE

C. acutus
C. intermedius
C. johnstoni
C. mindorensis
C. moreletii
C. niloticus
C. novaeguineae
C. palustris
C. porosus
C. rhombifer
C. siamensis
M. cataphractus
O. tetraspis
T. schlegelii

FAMILY:
GAVIALIDAE

G. gangeticus

DICHOTOMOUS KEY
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Close-up of the head of a juvenile (1 yr) Chinese alligator, which already shows differences in both head morphology and colour next to its American cousin. Apart from being blunter and more rounded, the tip of the snout is slightly upturned. The eyelids are also more heavily ossified, more akin to caimans than the American alligator.

Photograph © Adam Britton

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[click on image for enlargement]

Head of juvenile Chinese alligator

Submerged adult female

Hatchling alligator held in hand