Ten fun facts about Alligators
Fact 1
Alligators are seen as two different species – one is American and the other Chinese.
Fact 2
An alligator can weigh over 1,000 lbs and males grow to an average of 13 feet length while females reach about 10 feet.
Fact 3
They have two sets of eyelids and nearly 74 – 80 teeth at any time. They cannot move their tongue and need to lift their heads in order to swallow.
Fact 4
When a light shines on them at night, the eyes of large animals glow red while the eyes of the small ones glow green.
Fact 5
An alligator’s bite is powerful as they have relatively strong jaw muscles but the muscles for opening the mouth are weak. Any human can use their bare hands or duck tape to hold their jaws shut.
Fact 6
Alligators eat birds, fish, turtles, snails, crustaceans, deer and various mammals.
Fact 7
In warm temperatures the eggs produce males and in cool temperatures they produce females. Eggs are broken with their egg tooth which lies at the tips of their jaw.
Fact 8
They live from 35 to 50 years and longer when held in captivity.
Fact 9
Alligators are capable of moving fast at short bursts or lunges that exceed 20 mph
Fact 10
The skin of an alligator is tough and bony plates called ‘scutes,’ protect their armored backs, which make them immune to snake poison.
More interesting reads about...
Caimans
Are large aquatic reptiles commonly referred as the Spectacled Caiman as the ridges above their eyes appear as if they wear sunglasses.
Frogs
Are amphibians with a large head, large eyes and smooth moist skin.
Seals
Are warm-blooded marine mammals with round eyes and long whiskers around the mouth.
Emus
Are the second largest birds in the world after ostriches and belong to a family of flightless birds called ‘Ratites’.
Eels
Are snake-like fish from the order Anguilliformes that occupy both fresh water as well as saltwater habitats.
Turtles
Are cold-blooded or ectodermic reptiles that are classified under the Order Testudines.
Tigers
Have been around for 2 million years but considered an endangered species with only about 4,000 surviving in the wild today.
Platypuses
Is a warm blood mammal that belongs to the monotreme group that lay eggs.
Gharials
Are large-sized reptiles found in Northern Indian and the surrounding countries.
MORE IN ANIMALS
