7 Pair of Animals that are Often Confused with Each Other

Everyone gets confused, especially when it comes to distinguishing two things that look very similar. In the animal world, some species look so similar that we often get confused and can’t tell them apart. Below are a few animals that may look the same, but are actually very different.

African/Asian Elephants

African elephants have a bigger build, but you can’t really tell them apart by size, not unless they’re standing next to each other. Asian elephant have two domes on the head. African elephant trunks have two “fingers” at the tips. Asian elephants also tend to be lighter in color compared to African Elephants.

Alligators/Crocodiles

Gators and crocs have a couple of features that can help tell them apart from each other. Gators have a snout that has a V shape to them and in terms of habitat, they’re only found in China and the Americas. Crocs on the other hand have a more rounded snout and are found in Australia, Africa, Southeast Asia, and some parts of the Americas. Crocs are also able to lift themselves off the ground when walking, unlike Gators.

Turtles/Tortoises

The biggest difference between these two shelled animals is that turtles spend most of their lives in water and have fins. Turtles would venture to land just to lay eggs. Tortoises live on land, have long stubby feet, and they can’t swim. They’re found in dry and hot places where they dig burrows to live in.

Cheetahs/Leopards

Cheetahs have a more slender body structure compared to leopards. Leopards are nocturnal while cheetahs tend to be more active during the day. Their spots can also help differentiate them. Cheetahs have round, solid black spots while leopards come in patterns that look more like broken rings.

Frogs/Toads

There are about four hundred frog species and three hundred toad species so it really is difficult to spot the difference. Generally, frogs tend to be smaller and have bulging eyes and strong legs. They also have webbed feet since they spend more time in water. Toads prefer to walk than jump, and are usually bigger. Frogs have slimy smooth skins while toads are covered in small warts and have dry skin.

Alpacas/Llamas

Some might mistake alpacas as young llamas, but their size difference is actually one of the things that can tell them apart. Llamas are also less hairy and produce little fleece compared to alpacas. Llamas can also be used to guard alpacas, which make them look more like the big brother of the group.

Seals / Sea Lions

Looking at their flippers, you can tell them apart right away. Seals have a smaller flipper since they mainly use them for swimming and diving. Sea lions walk with their flippers so they’re bigger and a bit more stalky looking. Seals also have a harder time moving on land compared to sea lions.

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Beware in the Bayou: Alligators and Crocodiles Can Climb

You might think of crocodiles lurking in the water or perhaps sunning themselves on a riverbank, but it turns out these toothy reptiles’ domain extends to the upper branches of trees.

A new study in Herpetology Notes documents the surprisingly common tree-climbing behavior in crocodiles and their close cousins, alligators. Even without any special anatomic adaptations for gripping branches, crocodiles often make their way up trees, sometimes going as high as the crown and out onto large limbs.

Source: Here

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American Alligators, Mugger Crocodiles Use Lures to Hunt Their Prey

US researchers led by Dr Vladimir Dinets from the University of Tennessee have found that two croc species – mugger crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris) and American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) – use twigs and sticks to lure birds, particularly during nest-building time.

Their study, published in the journal Ethology, Ecology and Evolution, is the first report of tool use by any reptiles, and also the first known case of predators timing the use of lures to a seasonal behavior of the prey.

Source: Here

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Crocodiles, Alligators Eat Fruits, Say Biologists

Nile crocodiles, American alligators and other crocodilians enjoy fruits along with their normal meat-heavy diets of mammals, birds, and fish, according to a team of biologists led by Prof Frank Mazzotti from the University of Florida.

Their study, reported in the Journal of Zoology, looked at 18 crocodilian species ranging from the American alligator to the Nile crocodile.

Source: Here

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