Dumb Reptile Question....

O

okbohn

Joined
May 26, 2006
Messages
3,799
ok, really a dumb question about reptiles, but I thought it was clever.

What is the difference between a Caiman and an Alligator or Crocodile?
 
looks like an alligator to my Oklahoma eyes

survival-caiman.jpg
 
I know that gators have a much broader snout than crocs do. Not sure about the caimans. I think their snout is even more pointy than a crocodile. Other than that I have no idea :)
 
I'll bet all three of them make good leather goods and barring some bizarre disease, probably make a good steak as well. :D
 
good Eating,Great leather products and all will bite you ! The easiest way of telling apart crocodiles from alligators, however, is to look at their noses. Alligators (and caimans) have a wide "U"-shaped, rounded snout (like a shovel), whereas crocodiles tend to have longer and more pointed "V"-shaped noses.
 
You know the little drainage ponds they leave for years after they build a mall or some other type of office building, etc.?

Where I grew up over in Hanover, Maryland, they had a Caiman spotted last year and DNR eventually was able to spot it and capture it. Someone's pet apparently...got a little big for the bathtub or something! :D
 
Baddest thing in that pond was a snapping turtle until this other throwback from the dinosaurs arrived. :D
 
3ft thing I tried to catch him but the lil'Thing was to fast.....wife was laughing at me for trying ....I was not as fast of a swimmer as I use to be ! Growing up/older sucks !!!
 
I wonder how big they have to get before you can eat them?

I wonder if they wonder the same thing about me.
 
texastonydobbs said:
3ft thing I tried to catch him but the lil'Thing was to fast.....wife was laughing at me for trying ....I was not as fast of a swimmer as I use to be ! Growing up/older sucks !!!
Click to expand...


With brass spheres that large, I would think you would sink going in the water. :D
 
Here are some shots from my Everglades trip last year. Just thougt I'd share.

STP61784.jpg


STP61785.jpg


STP61807.jpg


STP61808.jpg


These little gators were everywhere. I got the willies scared out of me by one big momma gator that I got to close to. Notice no pictures of the big ones? The didn't get that way by being seen alot. A gator is an "Instinct" driven animal, but it has it's smarts. If you go to the same water access point more than once, they will begin to close in on that spot. If you continue doing that, you won't be around long. BTW Gator tail is the shizznit!
 
Caimans are technically alligators they dont grow as large as the north american variety and they generally are more aggressive. Then the whole nose thing like Tony pointed out.
 
I would love to go to the Everglades. You know, I live probably 20 minutes away and I've never even gone. It's like living in NY and not going to see the statue of liberty
 
SecSpyral said:
I would love to go to the Everglades. You know, I live probably 20 minutes away and I've never even gone. It's like living in NY and not going to see the statue of liberty
Click to expand...

More like living near Bluefield and never going to New Grahams Pharmacy :foot:, :o I even has some family that lives up there, :D maybe its time for a trip.
 
KenM K said:
Caimans are technically alligators they dont grow as large as the north american variety and they generally are more aggressive. Then the whole nose thing like Tony pointed out.
Click to expand...

That's what I was wondering about!
 
KenM K said:
Caimans are technically alligators they dont grow as large as the north american variety and they generally are more aggressive. Then the whole nose thing like Tony pointed out.
Click to expand...

The Black Caiman is actually the largest of the alligators with adult males growing between 15 and 20 feet versus the American Alligator average of 12 - 14.
 
Caiman have characteristics of both crocs and alligators. The nose of a gator and back skuets (sp?) that a croc has. They do grow very large. I have seen larger caiman than I have ever seen gators. I saw a large caiman floating on top of the water about 2 in the morning once as we puttered down a small tributary. He was 14-16 feet or so. Our boat came to within 10 feet of him and he never moved--just watched us go by. I was the only one on the boat beside the driver awake and couldn't believe what I was seeing but it was by us before I thought of waking anyone up. One of those really weird moments that I will always remember.:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top