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Aligators

Alligators are big and shy animals. They only eat small animals, such as rats, mice, insects, frogs and sometimes fish.It is pretty surprising that they don't eat humans, even though there cousins the crocodile does! Alligators only bite people. The only big risk (getting killed or injured) is when they mate, or when the female guards her nest.

Habitat
An alligator spends most of its time in and out of the water. When the water level changes a lot the alligator will dig a hollow in the mud which will fill up with water.Sometimes these hollows can reach to 65 feet.The temperature usually remains the same, so the alligator can retreat the weather of the winter coldness and summer heat.

Breeding
The alligator's mating takes place at night in the shallow water in April and May. The male roars loudly to attract the female and to scare of other males away. Usually the male is much larger than the female. The female lays her eggs in a nest made of damp and mud.After she lays her eggs she covers them with more mud or usually more vegetation. As the vegetation in the nest rots, it gives of heat, which helps to hatch the eggs.

Food and Hunting
Alligators eat a variety of food. Youngsters eat insects, shrimp, tadpoles, and frogs. As they grow, they eat small fish, and snakes.When almost fully grown, they eat almost entirely fish. Adult alligators can eat almost anything (e.g., raccoons, rodents, birds, turtles, snakes etc...)
Alligators hunt most of their food in water. They swallow small prey whole!

Alligator and Man
The alligator was once widely hunted for its skin, and was close to extinction earlier this century. A conservation program set up in the 1950s banned hunting and saved the alligator from extinction. Its numbers recovered so well it is now controlled by organized hunting.

Key Facts

Sizes
Length:About 13 ft.; up to 18 ft. Tail accounts for half of its length
Weight:450-500 lb

Breeding
Mating season:April to May
No. of eggs:25-60
Hatching time:2-3 months

Lifestyle
Habit:Usually solitary
Diet:Insects, shrimp, tadpoles, and frogs when young; fish and small mammals when adult
Lifespan:Up to 50 years

Related Species
The only species of alligator is the much smaller Chinese alligator, Alligator sinensis

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