Alligator Mississippians

1. Alligator Mississippians By: Nereida Pizano Alex Perez & Claudia Buruato

2. Table of Contents • Introduction • Alligator History • Alligator Habitat & Distribution • How Alligators Reproduce • Alligator Behaviors • Alligator Description

3. Introduction • The alligator is a large, semi-aquatic, armored reptile that is related to the crocodile. • The alligator is derived from a Spanish word “el lagarto” which means lizard. • Body length: 6-14 ft. • The American Alligator was once on the verge of extinction but it has made a tremendous come-back over the past 30 yrs. • Almost black in color, the American alligator has a prominent eyes and nostrils with coarse scales over the entire body.

4. Alligators emerge from brumation in March. American alligators normally avoid humans, but the American alligators can become perceived as a nuisance when they establish territories around ppl. Alligators are mostly inactive from mid-October until early March Background Information

5. Alligator History • The most current information indicates that alligators evolved from a common ancestor with dinosaurs that fore-dates the common ancestor that they share with other reptiles. So, even though alligators are classified as reptiles along with lizards, snakes, and turtles, they are actually more closely related to birds, whose ancestors were dinosaurs.

6. Distribution and Habitats • Southern United States-Alabama, Arkansas, North & South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, & Texas. • Freshwater swamps and marshes (primary). Also, rivers, lakes, and smaller bodies of water.

7. Alligator Sites

8. RePrOdUcTiOn • Sexual Maturity is dependent on the size of gator • Both sexes communicate using aural, visual, tactile, and olfactory cues. • After mating, females construct mounded nests of whatever vegetation is available. • As young alligators get ready to hatch in mid-August though mid-September, they begin to make high pitched, grunting sounds.

9. Breeding • In the wild, it takes about 10-12 yrs for sexual maturity, however in captivity, under ideal conditions, alligators can reach sexual maturity sooner • In order to reproduce, temperatures must be at a specific degree (the courtship rituals, which occur when the temperatures rise in spring it earlier further south).

10. Behaviors and Activities • Alligators are carnivores. (but baby alligators eat insects, snails, and other invertebrates). • Females usually have small territories. • Young alligators stay were they hatched up until they are about 2-3 years old. • Alligators are basically opportunistic feeders and will eat almost anything, including such objects as sticks, stones, fishing lures and aluminum cans.

11. Description • Adult males typically reach 4 to 4.5 meters • Females reach lengths of just under 3 meters • Snout characteristically broad • When mouth is closed, the edge of upper jaw overlaps teeth in the lower jaw. • Bony nasal bridge is present

12. Extra Info • First two years most critical in life of an alligator • In 1987 the American Alligator became the official reptile of the state of Florida • American alligators are probably the best studied species of crocodilian • Alligators have been shown to be an important part of their ecosystem

13. Conclusion • In conclusion, alligators are indeed a fascinating specie. While observing the alligators in the water one might think all they do is lie around catching sun rays but they are truly an interesting topic. We as humans must do the best we can to help out fellow friends the Alligator mississippians in order for them to stay away from the verge of extinction.

14. CREDITS • http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/wild/reptiles/americanAlligator • http://www.agrigator.ifas.ufl.edu/gators/ • http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/brittoncrocs/csp_amis.html

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