The American Alligator
Article and photograph by D.W. Cloud
The alligator can be distinguished from a crocodile by its broad, U-shaped snout as opposed to the narrow, V-shaped snout of the croc.
The alligator was endangered in the 1950s due to the market for its skin, but it has made a huge comeback since being placed under government protection. There are an estimated two million alligators in Louisiana and Florida alone.
The largest alligator on record was a Louisiana specimen over 19 feet long; the heaviest was a Florida gator weighing over 1,000 pounds; and they have been known to live more than 75 years. The average grown male is about 13 feet and 800 pounds.
The alligator’s respiratory system is like that of a bird, with the air moving in a unidirectional manner through its lung system.
The alligator has a valve in the back of its throat that closes when it submerges and thus prevents the water from entering its lungs.
It is a cold-blooded creature and must sun itself to maintain proper body temperature. They remain dormant if the temperature is below 55 degrees F (13 Celcius), and during winter months they often live in underground burrows, though they emerge to bask in the sun.
It’s tail forms half of its length and serves many functions, propelling it through the water, acting as a weapon, and storing fat that the alligator uses for nourishment during times when it cannot feed.
A large male alligator can bite down with a massive force of more than 2,900 pounds. This is the most powerful bite force ever measured, more than the force of a mid-size car falling on top of someone. In contrast, the hyena has a bite force of 1,000 pounds; a lion, 940 pounds; a dusky shark, 330 pounds; a Labrador dog, 125 pounds; and a human, 170 pounds.
The alligator can snap its jaws shut within 50 milliseconds.
The alligator has about 80 sharp teeth, and new ones form when old ones fall out.
The alligator has tiny bumps on its face that are ultra sensitive to touch, even more sensitive than human fingertips.
Typically the alligator feeds on fish, birds, and smaller animals, but it can kill larger prey, such as deer and wild boars, by dragging them under the water and drowning them.
Gators spend much of their time floating partially submerged with just their snout and eyes showing above the water, waiting for a meal. They have excellent night vision and a keen sense of smell and often hunt at night.
The female builds a large nest of vegetation that provides heat for the eggs as it decomposes. The sex of the offspring is determined by the place occupied in the nest and the temperature at which it is incubated. If the temperature is 86 degrees F (30 degrees Celsius) or lower, the eggs produce females, and those of 93 degrees F (34 degrees Celsius) or higher produce males.
The mother lays from 20-50 eggs and defends the nest from predators during the 60 or so days of incubation. At this time the female can be a great danger to those who venture near the nest. At this time she can be a great danger to those who venture near the nest, as an alligator can run 17 miles per hour for short distances, which is faster than the average human. She will warn away intruders by hissing, thrashing her tail, and chomping her jaws. After the eggs hatch (typically only about half survive), the mother takes the 10-inch-long baby alligators in her mouth and carries them to the water. Typically she stays with the young for a year.
A group of alligators is called a “congregation.”
