Fun facts about alligators

• Alligators have been in this world for a really long time. These creatures along with their close relatives are the only reptiles still living that are related to dinosaurs. They have been in this world for more that 200 million years. This interesting fact about alligators is truly awe inspiring.
• Alligators are cold blooded reptiles and they derive their heat by basking under the sun. They enter the water when they require cooler temperatures
• The United States of America and China are the only places where the alligator is native
• Some of the important differences between the alligator and the crocodile are that their snout is wider than the crocodile’s. Interesting facts about the jaws of alligators are that when the jaw of the alligator is closed, only the front teeth of the upper jaw are visible, whereas the teeth present in the upper jaw as well as the lower jay are visible in a crocodile. This interesting fact about the jaws of the alligator is because the lower teeth of the alligator are pushed into pockets on the upper jaw of the alligator. The head of the alligator is V-shaped while the head of the crocodile is U-shaped.
• Another interesting fact about the jaws of the alligator is that the number of teeth present in the mouth of an alligator is about 70-80. When teeth get worn out due to wear and tear, new teeth are replaced. Alligators have between 2000-3000 teeth during their entire lifetime.
• Alligators usually measure between 6 feet and 12 feet. However, the largest alligator is claimed to be 17 feet in length.
• The weight of alligators is around 500 pounds but weight as high as 1000 pounds have also been reported.
• The alligators have 5 toes in their front feet that helps them walk on land. Alligators move in short bursts of speed on land. The alligators can run at speeds of about 30 kmph. The legs are short and therefore their stomach and tail scrape the ground. Their hind feet are webbed and they have 4 toes, aiding them in swimming.
• The nose of the alligator is placed above the snout and this interesting fact about alligators helps the alligator stay immersed in water while just the nose is placed above water for breathing. The eyes are big and bulging and can be moved around to sight prey at distances. The sense of hearing is very sharp and alligators can hear from a distance
• Alligators usually hunt during the night time and they generally feed on fish, snake and turtles. They do not chew their food; instead their prey is swallowed as such. Larger creatures that cannot be swallowed at one go, like deers, are thrown about so as to shred their flesh into smaller pieces, so that the alligator can eat these small chunks of flesh as a whole without chewing.
• An interesting fact about alligators is that these alligators drag large prey into the water in an attempt to drown them.
• Mating season is usually during April-May and the female alligators they lay about 10 – 70 eggs on carefully built nests. The nests measure 3 feet in height and 6 feet in diameter. Once the eggs are laid, the female alligator guards the nest after covering the eggs with mud and plants. Another fact about alligators is that they do not contain sex chromosomes that determine the gender of the alligator. Instead, the warmth of the nest during incubation determines the sex of the alligator. Warm temperatures of over 93 degrees Fahrenheit give rise to male alligators.
• Facts about baby alligators include the fact that the male baby alligators are more colourful than female alligators. This attracts predators to the male alligator and their shrill cry during a predator attack warns the mother alligator about the impending attack.
• Further facts about alligators are that male alligators feed on baby alligators during times of hunger.
• Some more facts about baby alligators are that as soon as the eggs hatch to give rise to baby alligators, the mother alligator takes all the baby alligators in the mouth and lets them into the water.
• A well known and interesting fact about alligators is that alligators are very territorial and they guard their nest very carefully. Even after this, very few alligators survive till adult hood in the wild.
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• Alligators undergo a period of dormancy to get through cold climates by creating a hole along the water. This hole is called the ‘gator hole’ and is used by the alligators during such periods of dormancy.
• Other facts about alligators include the information that alligators have a transparent eyelid that helps them while swimming under water.
• Alligators do not sweat and the eyes of an adult alligator will glow red in the dark.
• The list of interesting facts about alligators also includes details about the lifespan of these alligators which is 30 years in the wild, while they live for even 50 years when in captivity.
• There are many alligator farms in the United States and though the alligators were once in the endangered list, they are now considered threatened. Immediate action should be taken to ensure that these alligators are preserved and to increase the number of their kind.

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