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Gators, Crocs and Caimans

To make it easier to picture the American alligator, American crocodile and the yacare caiman in the wild, browse the images below.

 

There are two alligator species in the world: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator. The American alligator (alligator mississippiensis) can be found in the southeastern United States from North Carolina to eastern Texas. They are most prevalent in Florida and Louisiana with both states having populations of more than one million.

The American crocodile (crocodylus acutus) can be found from along the coastal areas of south Florida, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America to Ecuador and Venezuela. It prefers coastal saltwater anc brackish habitats.

The yacare caiman (caiman yacare) can be found in swamps, marshes, lakes and slow moving rivers in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, and Bolivia where it feeds mainly on fish, but also eats insects, birds, small animals and other reptiles. It can grow up to 10' to 13' in length and only becomes a danger to humans when it becomes as large as they are.

Large Sunning Alligator

A large alligator sunning on a log in Tampa, Florida's John Sargent Park.

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Sunning Alligator

An alligator suns on one of their favorite loogs in Tampa Florida's Lettuce Lakie Park.

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Lounging About

This alligator was just lounging about on a log at Tampa, Florida'a Lettuce Lake Park.

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Toothy Grin

An alligator suns on a log in Tampa, Florida's Lettuce Lake Park.

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Young Alligator Sunning

A young alligator warms itself sunning on a log in Tampa, Florida's Lettuce Lake Park.

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Eyeing Prey

An alligator gives the eye to a visitor to Tampa, Florida's Lettuce Lake Park.

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Up Close

This alligator was sunning itself on a log in Tampa, Florida's Lettuce Lake Park.

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Gator Boil

An alligator bellows, causing the water to "boil" on its back, as a signal to other mature alligators in the area.

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Crocodylus Acutus

This large American Crocodile is one of a number that can be found at Gatorland in Kissimmee, Florida.

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Caiman Relaxing

This is just one of the many yacare caimans (caiman yacare) that you will find in Argentina's Esteros del Ibara in Corrientes Province.

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Big Daddy Disturbed

This large yacare caiman (caiman yacare) makes a splash as it comes off some floating vegetation and enters the waters of the Esteros del Ibara, Argentina.

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Black Caiman

This yacare caiman (caiman yacare) is sunning itself on floating vegetation in the Esteros del Ibara, Argentina. This fresh water reservoir in Corrientes Province, Argentina is one of the two largest in the world, second only in volume to the Pantanal in Brazil and covers 7,700 square miles.

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