Alligators: Ancient Reptiles of North America

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Talk about a blast from the past! Do you know how old alligators are? Alligators are more than 150 million years old and came from the time of the dinosaurs. It is definitely a wonderful sight to see such an old creature from the ages, especially down in South Florida, where the creature resides. So get a "bite" onto these alligator facts.

Description

The American alligator, the largest reptile in North America, is commonly confused with the crocodile; but these two members of the family Crocodylia have many differences. The alligator has a U-shaped snout and black-gray in color. Unlike crocodiles, their upper teeth are easily seen when its mouth is closed. They grow up to almost feet long and weigh half a ton!

Behavior

A congregation of alligators
Alligators live in groups called congregations, but the males are solitary, territorial animals and will defend their territory. The large males …show more content…

Today, alligators face threats, such as habitat loss, hunting, and climate change. Earlier, they were hunted for their hide for leather goods and their meat. The alligators freshwater habitat mixes with saltwater due to climate change. What is being done to save these animals from extinction? In some states, hunting is allowed, but the laws strongly control it.

Fun Facts

Here are some interesting facts about the American alligator:

American alligators can go through 3,000 teeth throughout their lifetime.
American alligators are not your average carnivores. They will also eat fruits.
The gender of an alligator depends on the temperature. Eggs that are exposed to temperatures above 90°F develop into males and those at 86°F develop into females.
The American alligator became the state reptile of Florida in 1987.
The majority of the American alligator's population lives in Florida and Louisiana. About 1.25 million American alligators live throughout

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