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American Alligator
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Scientific Name: |
Alligator mississippiensis |
| Range: |
Southeastern United States:
Alabama, Arkansas, North & South Carolina, Florida, Georgia,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas |
| Habitat: |
Primarily freshwater swamps and
marshes, but also in rivers, lakes and smaller bodies of water. |
| Natural
Diet: |
Smaller gators eat
invertebrates (particularly insects) and small fish. Adults are
carnivorous and eat large aquatic or terrestrial prey that they
capture. On occasion, they will also eat carrion if the
opportunity presents itself. |
| Zoo
Diet: |
Rats, chicken and other small
animals |
Physical
Characteristics: |
On average, adult males reach a
size of about 15 feet (4.5 m). Females reach lengths just under
10 feet (3 m). The snout is broad, with the edge of the
upper jaw overlapping the teeth of the lower jaw. A bony
nasal bridge is present. Like other reptiles, juvenile
gators are miniature versions of their parents. They possess
bright yellow cross-bands on a black background. The older
animals lose the yellow banding and turn dark green and brown,
an effective camouflage. The eyes are silvery. |
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Behavior: |
When capturing prey, the gators
powerful jaws clamp down upon the victim. The alligator
will then barrel roll under the water to drown it.
Alligators can jump out of the water's edge up to five feet to
snatch a meal. |
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Reproduction: |
Courtship occurs in the spring,
when the temperature is rising. Both sexes communicate using
vocal, visual, tactile, and olfactory cues. The vibration of
low-frequency bellows travels considerable distances in the
water. This advertises an individual's presence. The act
of slapping the head on the water's surface transmits visual
clues. Complex body postures communicate additional information.
At the end of the courtship, both animals engage in a bout of
snout and back rubbing. The courtship can last for hours.
Females lay between 20-50 eggs in a covered mound on shore.
The sun incubates the eggs. In about 65 days the eggs will
hatch. Young alligators are about 8 inches (20 cm) long. |
| Notes: |
While the alligator's jaws can
snap shut with incredible velocity, they possess few muscles to
open the mouth. That is why the alligator's mouth can be
easily held closed to treat or relocate an animal safely.
During this time, the thrashing tail becomes a much more
dangerous weapon than the jaws. |
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