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Jul 8, 2022 · Learn about the ancient, ancient, and ancient-looking reptiles that can grow up to 11 feet long and live in wetland habitats. Discover how they are related to dinosaurs, how they can run fast but tire quickly, how they can eat fruit and seeds, and more.
- A group of alligators is called a congregation. Alligators are often found in groups. Members take turns hunting and surveying their surroundings. They will also work together to protect their young.
- They can regrow parts of their tail. It was recently discovered that, like other reptiles, alligators are capable of regrowing up to nine inches of their tail.
- Like birds, they build nests. Pregnant females will build a nest of vegetation to protect and hide their eggs. Nests can vary in size, ranging from seven to 10 feet across.
- You can tell them apart from crocodiles based on their teeth. Unlike crocodiles, alligators have an overbite and rounder snouts. This overbite makes it so that, when the mouths of alligators are closed, their bottom teeth are barely visible.
- Almost Twins. It is not easy to tell them apart at first glance. Alligators and crocodiles are lizard-like reptiles with long snouts, short legs, powerful tails, and bony-plated backs.
- Snout Shape. Try to zoom in to see the differences, starting with the shape of their snouts. In alligators, these are broad with a U-shaped outline. On the other hand, crocodiles have narrow, V-shaped snouts.
- Teeth Visibility. Their reptilian teeth are sharp and scary. Fortunately, alligators keep their’s hidden when their mouths are closed. You cannot say the same for crocodiles.
- Body Color. Would you like to tell them apart from afar? Understandable. Just use your binoculars and check out the color of their skins. The gray and black reptiles are probably alligators, while the olive and tan behemoths are crocodiles.
- American alligators live in southeastern U.S. These reptiles live in coastal wetlands ranging from North Carolina to Florida and west to eastern Texas.
- American alligators can weigh up to half a ton. Although average males weigh around 500 to 600 pounds, they are known to grow as much as 1,000 pounds (i.e.
- Male American alligators are larger than females. Average males grow around 10 to 15 feet long. In contrast, females are typically smaller, with an average length of 8.2 feet.
- The tail makes up half an American alligator’s length. Their strong, massive tail averages around 5 to 8 feet long and is key for their survival in the wild.
- Alligators can get quite large. Like crocodiles, alligators continue to grow throughout their life. As a result, old males can get quite large – they can often reach at least 14 or 15 feet (up to 4.5 meters) in length, which is even larger than some crocodile species (but not all of them, the biggest reptiles are still crocodiles).
- Alligators can use basic tools. An alligator’s brain weighs only about 8 or 9 grams, and it has the average size of a walnut, but that doesn’t mean they are stupid.
- The oldest alligator is Muja, an American alligator at Belgrade Zoo in Serbia. In 1937, an adult specimen was brought to the Belgrade Zoo in Serbia from Germany.
- The origin of the name “Alligator” The name “alligator” is probably an anglicized form of el lagarto, the Spanish term for “the lizard”, which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator.
Learn about the two living species of alligator, their habitat, diet, behavior, and conservation status. Discover how alligators are living fossils, use tools, and have up to 3,000 teeth.
Oct 23, 2014 · Alligators are large reptiles and members of the order Crocodylia. The two existing species of alligators and the many worldwide species of crocodiles are closely related, and people often...
