common or alligator snapper???
- Thread starter keepinfish
- Start date
For future reference, here are some characteristics useful for ID:
COMMON--------------------------ALLIGATOR
eyes high on head-----------------eyes low on head, not visible from top
small or no hook on upper jaw------strong hook on upper jaw (eagle-like)
normal carapace scutellation-------extra row of 'supramarginal' scutes
carapace scutes with low peaks----car. scutes with high continuous keels
tail with 3 rows of large scutes-----tail with low or no scutes
There are other differences as well, but this should be enough for positive ID. Here's a juvenile ally:
COMMON--------------------------ALLIGATOR
eyes high on head-----------------eyes low on head, not visible from top
small or no hook on upper jaw------strong hook on upper jaw (eagle-like)
normal carapace scutellation-------extra row of 'supramarginal' scutes
carapace scutes with low peaks----car. scutes with high continuous keels
tail with 3 rows of large scutes-----tail with low or no scutes
There are other differences as well, but this should be enough for positive ID. Here's a juvenile ally:
common.....water might be fine if its only colored by tannins from cork bark or drift wood...if not....then its pretty bad.....can't see enough of the tank to make a judgment on that.