Alligators and Crocodiles Alligators and Crocodiles are different species belonging to the order " crocodilia " , of the class " sauropsida " . To the layman , the two species are easily confused . ( The main visual differences are that alligators have a broader snout and crocodiles show both sets of teeth when their mouths are closed . ) Crocodiles are native to the Americas , Africa , Australia , and Asia , whereas alligators are only native to the United States and China . The U . S . is , in fact , the only location where crocodiles and alligators co - exist , although crocodiles are almost extinct in this country . Alligators and crocodiles have appeared in several Muppet productions over the years , with the same puppets used interchangeably for both species . The Muppet Show . A crocodile first appeared on " The Muppet Show " in the " Never Smile at a Crocodile " number on . Mary Louise rode the crocodile through a swamp , and as she sang , the crocodile ate a series of frogs . In this first appearance , the crocodile puppet had angry eyes and a black mouth . The crocodile appeared again in " Ugly Song , " where he was performed by Frank Oz . Three smaller crocs debuted in , as back - up singers for Elton John in " Crocodile Rock . " For this appearance , the main crocodile puppet was altered slightly , having been given eyebrows and a red mouth . The puppet made sporadic appearances throughout the run of the show , addressed as either an alligator or a crocodile , as called for by the script . The puppets ' first appearances as alligators were in , when Animal took up alligator wrestling as a hobby . The alligators , unsurprisingly , lost the match , and one of them could be seen escaping with a white flag of surrender clenched in its mouth . In another memorable appearance in , the crocodile ate the Newsman as a punishment from the ancient Egypt ian crocodile god , Rezal - evad - gib . The crocodile appeared in a North Pole - themed number in of " The Muppet Show " , " Jambalaya " , biting Catgut , who ' s trying a spot of ice fishing . The same puppet appeared as an alligator in " The Muppets at Walt Disney World " , scaring Miss Piggy as she made the soggy trek to Paradise Swamp . One of the smaller crocodiles later made audience cameos in " Muppets Tonight " . Sesame Street . On " Sesame Street " , a life - size alligator puppet was made for Season 24 . Among other appearances , the alligator sings a line in the song " Let ' s Lay an Egg " . It also appears in Ernie ' s song " Animals in the Bedroom " , identified as a crocodile . In " MOM ! There ' s an alligator in my room ! " a boy named Gerald is put to bed by his parents . As soon as they close the door , his dog Sparky creates an alligator - shaped shadow on the wall and begins singing about being an alligator . When the boy calls for his parents , the dog repeatedly returns to rest under the bed until Gerald realizes it was Sparky all along . A classic 1971 animated song , " The Alligator King " , details the story of an old alligator king and the attempts of his sons to win his crown . In an animated insert for the letter A , a man explains that " alligator " begins with A , unaware that an alligator is about to devour him . Other Alligators and Crocodiles . Another puppet appeared as Sly the Crocodile on of " The Animal Show " and again in as Frankie the Crocodile . Arnie the Alligator , a friend from Kermit ' s home swamp , scares Bernie the Agent at the beginning of " The Muppet Movie " . Although played by a animatronic alligator in " The Muppet Movie " , Arnie was portrayed as a puppet in the direct - to - video prequel , " Kermit ' s Swamp Years " . Caiman , a crocodile with a completely different design from any previous Muppet crocodiles , appeared in " The Song of the Cloud Forest " . Pickles , an alligator , interacted with Gonzo in presentation on how to butter an alligator originally posted to Muppets . com in 2009 . External links . _ _ NOWYSIWYG _ _