Top 10 Rare or Unusual Crocodiles and Alligators

The main difference between an alligator and a crocodile is the shape of their noses (stouts). Alligators have a U-shaped nose and crocodiles have a V-shaped nose. There are also some amazing differences in each variety of species for each animal. Here is just ten of the world’s strangest, rarest and most unusual of the lot…

 


 

Top 10 Rare or Unusual Crocodiles and Alligators
Slender Snouted Crocodile

10 – Mecistops cataphractus

While his snout is not as unusual as some of the others on this list it is still quite unusual. They are a medium-sized crocodile but can still grow up to 3 to 4 m (9.8 to 13.1 ft).

Top 10 Rare or Unusual Crocodiles and Alligators
Desert Crocodile

9 – Crocodylus suchus

It was this species of crocodile that was most often found mummified inside Egyptian tombs and burial grounds. It is also the same species as seen on the Bust of Sobek, the Egyptian crocodile god!

Top 10 Rare or Unusual Crocodiles and Alligators
Chinese Alligator

8 – Alligator sinensis

Believe it or not, there are only two known living species of alligator in the world! The first is the much larger American alligator (which we will come to see later) and this one the Chinese alligator which is much smaller and cuter looking.

Top 10 Rare or Unusual Crocodiles and Alligators
Siamese Crocodile

7 – Crocodylus siamensis

The Siamese crocodile is considered one of the least studied and most critically endangered crocodilians in the world. Sadly it may already be too late to observe them in a natural environment.

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Top 10 Rare or Unusual Crocodiles and Alligators
Cuvier’s dwarf caiman

6 – Paleosuchus palpebrosus

While he might be the world’s smallest species of a crocodile at 1.2m fully grow they are still quite large.

Top 10 Rare or Unusual Crocodiles and Alligators
Chinese Alligator

5 – Alligator sinensis

This rare prehistoric beast is one of the smallest Alligator species in the world. And also one with the cutest nose!

Top 10 Rare or Unusual Crocodiles and Alligators
Leucistic Alligator

4 – Alligator mississippiensis

It is believed there are only 12 Leucistic Alligators in the whole world. Essentially this is just a normal Ameican Alligator that was born an albino.

Top 10 Rare or Unusual Crocodiles and Alligators
Estuarine Crocodile

3 – Crocodylus porosus

While this photo has since been proved to be a trick of the camera angle rather than the actual size, some saltwater crocs can grow over 6 meters long! That is one extremely large crocodile.

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Top 10 Rare or Unusual Crocodiles and Alligators
African Dwarf Crocodile

2 – Osteolaemus tetraspis

He might look cute, but at 6ft long with a heavily armoured neck, back and tail he is also very dangerous.

Top 10 Rare or Unusual Crocodiles and Alligators
Gavial Crocodile

1 – Gavialis gangeticus

The gharial is a rather long-nosed fish loving croc that is also one of the longest of all living crocodilians They can grow up to a massive 6.25 m (20.5 ft) long!

Author: Gus Barge

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