Saturday, July 30, 2011

Alligator or Crocodile??


I got this super neat Lego Creator - Ferocious Creatures Set for my birthday, from my Aunt, Uncle and cousins. It is really fun to build with, but it can be a little tricky.  My cousin Charles and I built a dinosaur out of the same set because it is a 3 in 1 set with instructions for 3 creatures.  The set has four hundred and sixteen pieces. I would rate it 9 out of 10 stars.


Facts About Alligators
* There are two types of alligators:
    - American alligator - can weigh over 800 lbs 
        and can be over 13 feet in length
    - Chinese alligator - can weigh about100 lbs 
        and are usually around 5 feet long
* The name 'alligator' comes from 'el lagarto',
        a Spanish term meaning lizard
Alligators are only native to China and
        the United States of America.  
Chinese alligator currently only live in the
        Yangtze river valley and are extremely
         endangered.
* Small alligators often will be found in  
          large numbers close together.


While researching alligator facts, I found some interesting information about the differences between alligators and crocodiles.  Actually, I found that the above creature I created is a crocodile instead of an alligator.  Go figure!

Alligators vs. Crocodiles

Alligators and crocodiles are different species but are easily confused. The United States is the only place where crocodiles and alligators live together in the wild, although crocodiles are almost extinct in the United States.

Alligators                          
- Native only to the United States and China
- Have a broader snout / show only one set of teeth when mouth is closed
- Like to live in fresh water such as ponds and lakes.

Crocodiles
- Native to the Americas, Asia, Africa, & Australia
- Narrow snout / show both set of teeth when mouth is closed.
- Prefer to live in salt water or brackish water.


I found this image and more info at the website below...


http://www.boredkillers.com/difference-between-alligator-and-crocodile/

2 comments:

  1. we love your virtual pets-- from my homesch
    ool kids

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey love your stuff. So cool. Love how you put real facts with awesome Legos!

    ReplyDelete