is it an alligator or a crocodile?

do you know the difference between an alligator and the crocodile??

many retailers often misidentify the two or use the terms interchangeably...

the alligator family includes the american alligator and the caimans (from south america.)
the crocodile includes the porosus (mostly from australia) and the nile (niloticus). these four are the only legal skins traded legally in the u.s.

the easiest way to tell the difference between the two is that crocodile has a dimple in each scale, whereas american alligator is totally smooth...caiman alligator has a varied texture and a more "savage" quality...

porosus crocodile is the most preferred skin (read: most expensive), while american alligator is used most often by designers because its skin is softer...however, the caiman alligator has its following and is certainly more affordable that the others...athough none of these skins are for the faint-of-pocketbook!

do you have an alligator or crocodile? (i'm talking handbags...of course) please share!