Marlene Guillison, age 15, of Boiestown, N.B., Canada, for her question:

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ALLIGATOR AND A CROCODILE

Our friend the crocodile is actually a very large reptile. His ancestors were living in the days of the dinosaur. Actually, you'll have to agree that the crocodile looks as much like a dinosaur as any creature living today.

Alligators and crocodiles are related, and similar in many ways. The alligators, who live in the southern coastal areas of the United States and along the Yangtze Kiang River in China, are actually members of the crocodile family.

The main difference between the two is that the alligator's snout is broader and shorter than the crocodile's.