Don't the mouths vary in the two animals? That is what I remember learning in grade school in Florida. Teachers were always cautioning the children about lakes since in FL it is an issue.
While my husband and I had our sailboat in a Marina in FL an alligator swam up and snatched another boater's German Shepard from the dock. I couldn't believe it. I wouldn't have believed it had I not been there that day. Alligator actually swam in salt water to get the pooch. I still get upset when I think about it. They deserve to be made into CDC and purses!