Look Again: They are Not The Same

Is it easy to differentiate a crocodile from an alligator? Have you find it hard to identify which is a moth and which is a butterfly? We find it hard to differentiate as they look very similar. Find out how to differentiate them in this article. 

Crocodiles and Alligators: 

Image via brittanica

Image via american-crocodile

The one similarity between crocodiles and alligators apart from their looks is that they both belong to the family of animals called crocodilians. Let us now go to the differences between crocodiles and alligators. 

1. Crocodiles have narrow and a V-shaped snout while alligators have broad and a U-shaped snout. The only crocodile that has a U-shaped snout is the Indian mugger.
2. Crocodile’s snout is not stronger like those of alligators.
3. Both upper and lower jaws of the crocodiles are of same size when the mouth is closed while the alligator’s upper jaw is wider when compared with its lower jaw.
4. Crocodiles are light olive colored while alligators are blackish.
5. Alligators live in fresh water while crocodiles prefer sea water.
6. Both crocodiles and alligators have glands on the tongue, but only crocodiles’ glands are capable of secreting excess salt.
7. Crocodiles can be found almost anywhere in the world, but alligators are found in United States and China only.  

Frogs and Toads: 

 Image via susd

 Image via norman

Don’t frogs and toads look the same? These are the minute differences that can help us differentiate a frog from a toad. 

1. Skin of a frog is smooth and wet while the skin of a toad is dry and covered with warts.
2. The hind legs of frogs are longer than toads and these hind legs are webbed.
3. The body and the waist of frogs are narrower when compared with toads.
4. The eggs are laid by frogs in clusters while toads lay them in long chains.
5. Frogs jump to save it from predators while toads secrete unpleasant tasting skin secretion to save it from predators.
6. Majority of the frogs live in water while toads live on land and lay eggs on water. 

Rats and Mice: 

Image via brainbarrons and photobucket

Another creature that we often fail to differentiate is rat and mice. Find out the differences between a rat and mice. 

1. Rats weigh more than a mouse.
2. Rats have long and thick tails while mice have long and thin tails.
3. The features of rats are in general blunt while the features of mice are pointed.
4. When you look at the ears of the rats they would be much smaller as compared with their body sizes and this is not so with mice. 

Rabbits and Hares: 

 Image via huntwatch

Have you heard of the famous hare and the tortoise story and the lion and the rabbit story? Have you thought both rabbits and hares are same ever? Behold…they are not same. 

1. Rabbits are born naked and blind while hares are born with furs on their body and are not blind.
2. Rabbits have shorter hind legs when compared with hares that have large and long hind legs.
3. The fur of the rabbit doesn’t change color while the hares change color from grayish brown in summer to white in winter.
4. Their eating habits also differ. Rabbits in general eat soft food items like grass and vegetables while hares go for food items like bark, shoot and small twigs.
5. During day time, rabbits prefer to stay in their burrows while hares stay near the plant surfaces.
6. Rabbits live in colonies while hares live all by themselves. Hares come together only during mating season. 

Crows and Cuckoos: 

These are the differences of crows and cuckoos: 

1. The eyes of crow are black while that of cuckoos are red.
2. Crows are little bulky in their middle while cuckoos are slim.
3. Crows caws while cuckoos call looks as though they are singing.
4. Crows eat fruits, cooked foods, dead rats, etc., while cuckoos eat caterpillars. 

Butterflies and Moths: 

 Image via howstuffworks

They both belong to a group called Lepidoptera. They can be differentiated on the following: 

1. You can see butterflies flying during the day while moths during the night.
2. While at rest, butterflies’ wings are folded whereas the moths’ wings are spread out.
3. The abdomens of butterflies are slender while that of moths are fat.
4. During a pupa stage, butterflies form open chrysalis while moths form cocoon.

I think with this guide it becomes easier to identify or differentiate one from the other even though these species look alike.

You might also be interested in the following:

10 Bizarre Sea Creatures

First Ever Oxygen-free Animals Discovered

Beefalo = Buffalo + Cow and Seven More Amazing Hybrid Animals

Eight Animals with Unusual and Amazing Skills

Endangered Clams Around The World – Part One

Amazing Flightless Birds or Birds That Cannot Fly – Part I

Start writing and earn in Triond