ALLIGATORSBiggest reptile in the USA

By: RLM

INTRODUCTION

Its scientific name is Alligator mississippiensus

Biggest reptile in USA Lives in southern USA

PHYSICAL FEATURES

15 to 25 feet long Long, sharp teeth Green, scary eyes Green, black or brown

scales Big nostrils Weigh up to 1,000 pounds,

but usually 500 pounds Strong jaws Long tail Four short, stubby legs—

two on each side of body

Habitat

Alligators live in China and southern USA

Swampy areas

They live in swampy areas because they can cool down

Climates

Comes out of the water in sunny weather

Hibernates underwater during the winter

Alligators can live up to 40 years in the wild

Alligators can live up to 85 years in captivity

LIFESPAN

What they eat and who eats them!

Prey: (what animals eat them):

Humans—even though it is illegal

Predator: (what animals they eat):

Warthog Fish Frogs Birds Crabs turtles

BEHAVIOr

Makes noise to attract mate Puts young in mouth to protect Puts body over nest to keep eggs warm

BABIES Alligators have 10-

60 babies a time It takes 50-115

days to hatch

BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS

Puts babies in mouth to protect Puts body around nest to keep eggs

warm Bellows to attract a mate

PHYSICAL ADAPTATIONS

Alligators have green-black skin to look like a log

See through eyelids to see underwater

big snout to crush prey

A protective armor plated skin

PHYSIOLOGICAL ADAPTATIONS

Powerful jaws to crush bone Haves a flap in mouth to keep out water Has to get in water to cool or else it dies

FUN FACTS

The longest was 21ft long

The heaviest alligator was 1,000 lbs

1 airplane crash per year is caused by an alligator

Alligators are in the crocidillian family