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Do alligators hibernate in florida11/11/2023 The eggs that hatch between the temperature 32 degree and 34 degree come out to be male juveniles and those between 263 degree and 32 degree come out to be females. Gender of the young one reproduced is decided by the temperature at which the egg grows. The incubation period lasts for about 65 days. They have been observed to gather in groups at nights and engage in group “alligator dancing”.Ī female lays about 20 to 50 eggs at a time that are white in color and size of goose-eggs. They submerge their bodies into water keeping their backs just a little above the water surface level while keeping their heads and tails well above the water level. The males make a humming sound by inhaling air and then grumping out, creating an effect of infra-sound, to send out signals to the females as well as notify other males from coming near to their mates. These alligators reach reproductive maturity at the age between 6 and 10 years. These alligators mate during the spring season. Their teeth grows throughout their life span as and when wears off, enabling them to keep preying and tearing off the other species of animals for their diet.Their color helps them camouflage in their wild habitat.These crocodilians are very much adaptive to cold temperatures and thus suit themselves well enough to climatic conditions of their distributional zones. These huge reptiles are apex predators which means they exist on the highest strata of the predation ecological pyramid. This alligator swallows the whole prey if it is smaller in size and the bigger ones are dragged under the water where they are killed and eaten. Adult alligators feed on turtles, snakes, fishes, small mammals, frogs, smaller alligators and wading birds.Īmerican alligators’ zoo diet comprises of mostly rats, rabbits and occasionally chickens. Young ones mostly diet on marine invertebrates and small fishes. These reptiles are carnivores along with being opportunistic feeders and not very choosy. Let us find out what do American alligators eat. These alligators have been apex predator way before the mammals took over the ecological food chain. They have a glorious history that dates back even before the origin of dinosaurs. Despite being originally fresh water creatures, these alligators are also tolerant to slightly salty and impure waters. They are fresh water dwellers, finding home in or near rivers, swamps, marshes and bayous. HabitatĪs to where do American alligators live, they tend to inhabit areas near water patches. But both the sexes broaden their inhabiting range during the mating season. Picture 2 – American Alligator Range Map Rangeįemale alligators occupy a small range but the males dominate over 2 miles of area each. These reptiles are found in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas. These legs are very short, having five toes on the front limbs and four toes on the hind limbs. The tail is also covered with scutes.įeet: They have four legs. Tail: These alligators have a very strong, flat, muscular tail. These plates are called scutes or osteoderms. The bodies are covered with hard and pointed, bony plates. They experience about 2500 to 3000 teeth during their life span.īody: Their bodies are roundish in shape and huge. When their teeth erodes away in due course of time, new ones appear. Inside those mighty jaws adorn 74 to 80 sharp, pointy teeth. Jaws: This monstrous reptile has very strong and wide opening jaws. Though the nose is not distinguishable but the nostrils are clearly visible. A pair of round, small eyes are placed right on top descent of the head. Head: The head is long and quite big in overall proportion as well. Weight: Most adult alligators of this family weigh between 76 kg and 360 kg.Ĭolor: Color of the adult American alligator range from black to dark grey. and the males tend to stretch till 11.2 ft. Female adults of this species measure up till about 8.2 ft. Size: Largest American alligator found till date has recorded to be of 19.2 ft. Picture 1 – American Alligator Description They are also commonly known as Mississippi alligator, Alligator mississippiensis and Gator. Farming of this species is a growing interest in many states of USA. Their habitats often partly cover human inhabiting land area. Kids can classify this creature as monstrous form of a lizard.
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