It's sometimes hard to fathom why a child wants what they want, especially when it comes to the toys they covet. Take stuffed animals, for instance. It seems, the scarier they are, the better, and, the more they want them. Children love alligator plush toys - an animal that can be as terrifying to look at as it is to imagine ever getting close to one in the wild. Why would a child want an alligator plush toy over the much cuter and cuddlier ones, like bunnies and teddy bears? If you look at their reactions when they watch Disney's Peter Pan, for instance, it's not too hard to figure it out.

Alligators and crocodiles are not the same, despite the fact that they are quite similar looking. There are some subtle differences between the two animals, the one most easily recognized is the shape of their jaws; in simple terms, alligators have a 'U" shaped snout like a shovel whereas crocodiles have 'V' shaped pointed noses. An easier difference to spot is their teeth. Alligators have a fourth tooth that fits into a socket in their jaw so when their mouths are closed, the tooth is not visible. When a crocodile closes its mouth, that same tooth can be seen on either side of its jaws. When the teeth in an alligator wears down, they are replaced with new ones. They usually have between 74 and 80 teeth in their mouth at any one time and in their lifetime, they can go through as many as 2,000 to 3,000.

Alligators make their homes in freshwater like rivers. They can also be found in lakes, marshes, and swamps. They can survive in salt water but not for long as they are not equipped with salt glands. Alligators are meat eaters and survive on fish, snails, birds, frogs and pretty much any mammal that comes to the water's edge. Their jaws are strong enough so as to be able to crack the shell of a turtle. If their prey is small, they will swallow it whole, but if it's large, they shake it apart so it ends up in smaller pieces that are easier to swallow. If it's even larger, they will bite it, then spin around on the axis of their bodies to tear off pieces.

Online stores have spectacular alligator plush toys. Some are six feet long and have different green coloring. There is one that is light green and the other is dark. If your child insists on a more menacing look in their alligator plush toy, opt for the alligator plush toy with its mouth open - they don't get more frightening than him!

Have you figured out yet, why it is that children sometimes prefer the scary plush toys over the less scary ones? If not, think about this: while children won't likely recognize the difference, the reptile in "Peter Pen" is not an alligator, but a crocodile. What children like in "Peter Pan" is the ongoing chase between Captain Hook and the reptile and the sheer edge of your seat terror they get whenever the croc music starts up and he comes on the scene. Given the thrill children find in this classic cat and mouse game, despite the physical differences, and how gosh darn scary they are, it's no wonder alligator plush toys are in demand.