American Alligator - Astounding with their thick Limbs and Powerful Tail

Their scientific name is Alligator mississippiensi. American Alligators are the only reptiles which achieved official status by Floridian Government in 1987. These American Alligators are inhabitants of swamps and marshes and are also found in lower densities along streams, rivers and lakes of Southern Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia. Spanish explorers were the first Europeans to discover these species and they named it el lagarto. It means the lizard and McIlhenny in Louisiana were the first to document some of the remarkable aspects of the history of this species during 1935. American alligator facts are interesting.

Physical Appearance of American Alligator

The maximum size of adult males is 4.5 m but there are evidences to show that their length can be more then 5 m. Majority of male alligator measure only 3.4 to 3.7 m and weigh between 204 to 249 kilograms, whereas females seldom measures 2.7 m long, or weigh over 73 kilograms.

The male skin has blackish-olive color whereas female's skin has bright yellow stripes on their body. Young Alligators has yellow marks. The whole body is covered with large strong and ossified horny plates called osteoderms or scuts. Their eyes and ears are located near the top of the head.

Their Jaws are strongest among the reptiles in the world. Their weight is 3000 lbs and can crush a deer's skull in one snap. American Alligators have 80 teeth and if any one of their teeth breaks due to an encounter with other animals, it is immediately replaced. . Their tongue is fused to the floor of the mouth.

Their tail acts as a weapon of defense, and propels them to take swift moments while swimming. Their toes are joined at the base by webbing, which also helps them swim. On the land they can only walk for short distances by sliding on its belly. They have good binocular vision.

American Alligators Habitat

American Alligators habitat is mostly in wetlands. They dwell there to protect themselves from extreme winter conditions. During dry season Alligators will make gator holes. To make these gator holes they will uproot vegetation to clear space and then shove their body and slash with powerful tail. Their hole is filled with water in rainy season which quenches the thirst of other animals in the long dry season that follows. . Sometimes, they will expand gator hole by digging a bank. This will help them to create a hidden den. It will dig a tunnel 20 feet (6 m) deep and in the end they will make a chamber with a ceiling above water level to bring oxygen.

How American Alligators speaks

American Alligators does not have vocal cords but they are gifted with voice. Male American Alligators bellows like a thunder to attract females for mating. Their bellowing can be heard up to 1 1/2 miles away. Female also make a bellowing noise, but her bellowing is softer than males and does not reach very far.

Young American Alligators will make a chirping noise to call others when exposed to danger. To show their anger, these Alligators will make a loud hissing noise by expelling air through their mouth and will slap their heads on the water and swish their tails.

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American Alligator - Astounding with their thick Limbs and Powerful Tail

Physical Appearance of American Alligator

American Alligators Habitat

How American Alligators speaks

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