Crocodile vs. Lizard — What's the Difference?

A large aquatic reptile known for its V-shaped snout and powerful build.

An animal with a diet that can range from insects to vegetation, based on its species.

A reptile whose gender is determined by the temperature of its nest during incubation.

A small to medium-sized reptile, often with four legs and a tail.

A creature equipped with powerful jaws and sharp teeth, known for its ambush hunting strategy.

A cold-blooded reptile that can inhabit a variety of terrains, from deserts to rainforests.

A member of the Crocodylia order, with a lineage dating back millions of years.

Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 6,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic as it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia; some lizards are more closely related to these two excluded groups than they are to other lizards.

Crocodiles (family Crocodylidae) or true crocodiles are large semiaquatic reptiles that live throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. The term crocodile is sometimes used even more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia, which includes the alligators and caimans (family Alligatoridae), the gharial and false gharial (family Gavialidae), and all other living and fossil Crocodylomorpha.

Any of numerous squamate reptiles often classified in the suborder Lacertilia, characteristically having a scaly elongated body with a tapering tail, four legs, movable eyelids, and external ear openings.

Any of various large aquatic reptiles of the family Crocodylidae that are native to tropical and subtropical regions and have thick, armorlike skin and long tapering jaws.

Leather made from the skin of one of these reptiles.

A crocodilian reptile, such as an alligator, caiman, or gharial.

Any reptile of the order Squamata that is not a snake or an amphisbaenian, usually having four legs, external ear openings, movable eyelids and a long slender body and tail.

Leather made from crocodile skin.

Lizard skin, the skin of these reptiles.

Chiefly British A line of people, especially pupils or choir members, standing two abreast.

(colloquial) An unctuous person.

Any of the predatory amphibious reptiles of the family Crocodylidae; (loosely) a crocodilian, any species of the order Crocodilia, which also includes the alligators, caimans and gavials.

(colloquial) A coward.

A long line or procession of people (especially children) walking together.

(rock paper scissors) A hand forming a "D" shape with the tips of the thumb and index finger touching (a handshape resembling a lizard), that beats paper and Spock and loses to rock and scissors in rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock.

(logic) A fallacious dilemma, mythically supposed to have been first used by a crocodile.

(in compounds) A person who idly spends time in a specified place, especially a promiscuous female.

(intransitive) To speak one's native language at an Esperanto-language gathering, rather than Esperanto.

Any one of the numerous species of reptiles belonging to the order Lacertilia; sometimes, also applied to reptiles of other orders, as the Hatteria.

A large reptile of the genus Crocodilus, of several species. They grow to the length of sixteen or eighteen feet, and inhabit the large rivers of Africa, Asia, and America. The eggs, laid in the sand, are hatched by the sun's heat. The best known species is that of the Nile (Crocodilus vulgaris, or Crocodilus Niloticus). The Florida crocodile (Crocodilus Americanus) is much less common than the alligator and has longer jaws. The name is also sometimes applied to the species of other related genera, as the gavial and the alligator.

A piece of rope with thimble or block spliced into one or both of the ends.

A fallacious dilemma, mythically supposed to have been first used by a crocodile.

A piece of timber with a forked end, used in dragging a heavy stone, a log, or the like, from a field.

Large voracious aquatic reptile having a long snout with massive jaws and sharp teeth and a body covered with bony plates; of sluggish tropical waters

Relatively long-bodied reptile with usually two pairs of legs and a tapering tail

An apex predator found in freshwater habitats.

A man who idles about in the lounges of hotels and bars in search of women who would support him

A member of the Squamata order, which also includes snakes.

A creature known for its ability to regenerate its tail when threatened or attacked.

Yes, most crocodiles and lizards lay eggs, though some lizards give birth to live young.

No, while both are reptiles, crocodiles and lizards belong to different evolutionary orders.

Crocodiles are generally much larger than lizards.

While some lizards are semi-aquatic, they don't dwell in water as extensively as crocodiles.

No, crocodiles are not adapted for climbing like many lizards.

It's a defense mechanism; a predator might be distracted by the moving tail, allowing the lizard to escape.

Most lizards are harmless, but a few, like the Komodo dragon, can pose a threat.

Some crocodile species can live for several decades, with some reaching over 70 years.

Both being ectothermic, they regulate temperature through external means like basking in the sun.

No, while similar, they belong to different families and have distinct features.

Yes, most lizards have teeth, but the type and function vary by species.

Crocodiles are primarily carnivores, with no known exclusively vegetarian species.

Yes, geckos are a type of lizard.

The V-shaped snout allows efficient biting and gripping, especially useful for hunting.

Yes, lizards have internal ears and can detect vibrations and sounds.