American Alligators

Physical AppearanceAmerican Alligators are much larger than their Chinese counterparts. Their body is slightly rounded and they have very thick/bulky arms and legs. Their nostrils and ears have sealable flaps that keep water out while submerged. This allows them to stay under water for longer periods of time.American Alligators have a very large and powerful tail. It is used as a weapon during combat and to propel them through the water. When full grown their tail is almost half of their total body length. Because of their large tail they are able to swim very fast in water. On land however they usually appear to move very slowly. If they feel threatened they will actually sprint away travelling at almost 30 miles per hour.Some older male American Alligators have weighed up to 1000 pounds and been more than 14 feet long. Their average lifespan is between 15 and 25 years although they have been known to live to more than 30.HabitatThey make their homes in swamps, bogs and other wetlands of the South-Eastern United States. DietAmerican Alligators will prey on a variety of wildlife. This includes fish, birds, lizards and even deer. While the alligator is in a juvenile stage it will feed on insects, snails and other small creatures. There have been reports of American Alligators even taking down razorbacks, bears and panthers.ReproductionAmerican Alligators reach sexual maturity at 10 to 13 years of age. Breeding season occurs in the early spring. The male alligators bellow in an attempt to find a female. This is also a way to ward off the other males.The female alligator then leaves to build a nest in which to lay the eggs in. This nest can be made from a variety of materials depending on what is available. Common materials include sticks, leaves and mud. Anywhere between twenty and forty eggs are laid at one time. Once this is complete she shelters the nest with more material from nearby. With American Alligators it is the female which stays back to protect the nest from intruders while the eggs incubate. All the vegetation which has been used to create the nest will then begin to rot. In turn, this causes a build up of heat to aid in keeping the eggs warm. It is been shown that eggs which hatch while they are warmer turn out to be male alligators, while the ones that are colder are females. With the warmth of the sun shinning down on the top part of the nest, these eggs are usually males. The ones below which do not receive as much sunlight are usually females. Once the babies hatch they travel to the water, which is usually not far as the mother builds her nest close to a water source.

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