When mature, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) reigns at the top of his food chain.[1]
What States Are American Alligators Found In?
American crocodiles occur in South Florida and also can be found in Hispaniola, Cuba, Jamaica, along the Caribbean coast from southern Mexico to Venezuela, and along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Peru. The northern end of the crocodile’s range is in South Florida.[2]
Where Did The American Alligator Come From?
The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator or common alligator, is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States.[3]
How Many American Alligator Are Left?
An estimated 5 million American alligators are spread out across the southeastern United States. Roughly 1.25 million alligators live in the state of Florida. There are more than 1,000 American crocodiles, not including hatchlings, in Florida. Large male alligators are solitary, territorial animals.[4]
What Would Happen If The American Alligator Went Extinct
What would happen if alligators went extinct? – Quorawww.quora.com › What-would-happen-if-alligators-went-extinct[5]
What Will Happen If Alligators Go Extinct?
If alligators are removed from their native ecosystem, it would affect countless other species. As an American alligator’s teeth wear down or fall out, new ones come in. An alligator can go through 3,000 teeth in a lifetime.[6]
Why Is The American Alligator Important To The Ecosystem?
As alligators move from gator holes to nesting mounds, they help keep areas of open water free of invading vegetation. Without these ecosystem services, freshwater ponds and shrubs and trees would fill in coastal wetlands in the alligator’s habitat, and dozens of species would disappear.[7]
What Would Happen If Crocodiles Were Removed From The Ecosystem?
In short, a ripple effect of considerable magnitude. Without crocodiles the catfish population would explode, which in turn would decimate the tilapia and barb populations. Due to the subsequent dearth of mosquito larvae predators a massive rise in the numbers of mosquitoes would ensue.[8]
Why Was The American Alligator Almost Extinct?
This large-scale hunting and poaching, along with loss of habitat, reduced the alligator population so dramatically that it was on the brink of extinction. In 1967, the alligator was listed as an endangered species, and was considered in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.[9]
What Plants Are In The American Alligator Habitat
Alligators Increase Plant Diversity – In Defense of Plantswww.indefenseofplants.com › blog › alligators-increase-plant-diversity[10]
What Is The American Alligator’S Habitat?
The American alligator is found in the United States from North Carolina to the Rio Grande in Texas. Alligators are usually found in freshwater, slow-moving rivers. They also live in swamps, marshes and lakes. They can only tolerate salt water for brief periods because they do not have salt glands.[11]
What Plants Do Alligators Eat?
Different alligators and crocodiles will eat all sorts of fruits and veggies, says Switek, everything from “wild grape, elderberry, and various citrus fruits” to pears, apples, and even corn.[12]
What Is The American Alligator’S Niche?
Ecological niche
In their habitat, alligators are one of the species that play a key role in the environment. Thus, they regulate the population of prey species in the area. On the other hand, dens or caves, that they excavate, benefit other animals in the area.[13]
What Does American Alligator Eat?
Fish, mollusks, birds, and small mammals are all prey for alligators, which are primarily carnivorous. Fruits are sometimes deliberately consumed by them.[14]
What Is The Niche Of The American Alligator
Ecological niche
In their habitat, alligators are one of the species that play a key role in the environment. Thus, they regulate the population of prey species in the area. On the other hand, dens or caves, that they excavate, benefit other animals in the area.[15]
What Is The Role Of An American Alligator?
American alligators are important members of their ecosystem, and are regarded as keystone species. Many animals are affected by their existence. Young alligators are prey for wading birds, turtles, snakes, mammals, and larger alligators. Alligators over 4 feet long are at the top of their food chain.[16]
What Is The American Alligator’S Main Habitat?
The American alligator is found in the United States from North Carolina to the Rio Grande in Texas. Alligators are usually found in freshwater, slow-moving rivers. They also live in swamps, marshes and lakes. They can only tolerate salt water for brief periods because they do not have salt glands.[17]
What Do American Alligators Do For The Environment?
Ecologically, alligators are important predators and create important habitat for other wildlife by digging holes that hold water during droughts. Range and habitat: Alligators occur on the Atlantic Coast of North America from Florida through coastal North Carolina, and along the Gulf Coast into Texas.[18]
What Is The Role Of The American Alligator As A Keystone Species?
Alligators are considered “keystone species”, a species that helps to fashion its environment and influence the types of species that live there. Alligators perform necessary services like providing fresh water for other wildlife to drink during droughts by digging “gator holes” that bring groundwater to the surface.[19]
Where Can I Buy An American Alligator
Alligator for Sale – Backwater Reptileswww.backwaterreptiles.com › alligators › alligator-for-sale[20]
How Much Does An American Alligator Cost?
It may be hard to believe that it’s legal to own an alligator, but it is in some states. In Alabama, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina and Wisconsin, you don’t even need a permit or license. You can purchase a baby alligator for prices ranging from about $149 to $169 (not including shipping).Apr 16, 2021[21]
Can You Have An American Alligator As A Pet?
Owning an alligator is legal in some states, though. According to Born Free USA, a national animal advocacy nonprofit, five states have no license or permit requirements regulating the ownership of exotic pets. The group includes Alabama, Nevada, South Carolina and Wisconsin.[22]
Where Can You Find American Alligators?
The American alligator is found in the United States from North Carolina to the Rio Grande in Texas. Alligators are usually found in freshwater, slow-moving rivers. They also live in swamps, marshes and lakes. They can only tolerate salt water for brief periods because they do not have salt glands.[23]
How Much Does A Baby Crocodile Cost?
Sub-adults, a term for crocodiles aged between seven and 10 years and weighing as much as 200 kilograms (440 pounds), were the group where young breeders were sold for $1,100 while 10-month old crocodiles cost $75.[24]
What Is The Genus And Species Of The American Alligator
American alligator / Genus[25]
How Many Species Of American Alligators Are There?
The name alligator is an anglicized form of the Spanish el lagarto (‘the lizard’), the name by which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator. There are two living alligator species: the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and the Chinese Alligator (Alligator sinensis).[26]
How Many Genus Of Alligator Are There?
Alligators are semi-aquatic, sharp-toothed reptiles (order: Crocodylia, family: Alligatoridae, genus: Alligator.) There are two known living species in the Alligator genus, the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and the Chinese Alligator (Alligator sinensis.)Aug 13, 2022[27]
What Temperatures Can An American Alligator Handle
‘Alligators have been around for hundreds of years. They’re survival machines.’ The American alligator can survive water temperatures of negative 40 degrees and can hold their breath for one to 24 hours, the par said in a blog post.Jan 9, 2018[28]
What Temp Is Too Cold For Alligators?
Alligators stop feeding when the ambient temperature drops below about 70° F and they become dormant below 55° F, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Management Commission.Feb 19, 2021[29]
Can An Alligator Survive In Cold Weather?
By lowering their metabolic rates, becoming lethargic and keeping their snouts above water, alligators are able to survive brief periods of freezing weather. As cold-blooded reptiles, alligators rely on their external environments for temperature regulation, which means cold weather is not conducive to their survival.[30]
Resources
[1]https://animals.mom.com/importance-alligator-food-chain-10804.html
[2]https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/american-crocodile/
[3]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_alligator
[4]https://defenders.org/wildlife/american-crocodile-and-alligator
[5]https://www.quora.com/What-would-happen-if-alligators-went-extinct
[6]https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/American-Alligator
[7]http://www.brookfield.k12.oh.us/Downloads/Reinsel%2520Go%2520Green%2520Day%25202.pdf
[8]https://www.sabisabi.com/news/newsupdates/predators-at-play/
[9]https://www.captainjacksairboattours.com/7-are-alligators-endangered/
[10]https://www.indefenseofplants.com/blog/2020/4/28/alligators-increase-plant-diversity
[11]https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/american-alligator
[12]https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/kumquat-eating-crocodilians-crocs-and-gators-love-their-fruits-and-veggies-1372378/
[13]https://animalia.bio/american-alligator
[14]https://swampfeverairboatadventures.com/what-do-alligators-eat/
[15]https://animalia.bio/american-alligator
[16]https://www.zooamerica.com/animals/american-alligator/
[17]https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/american-alligator
[18]https://srelherp.uga.edu/alligators/allmis.htm
[19]http://www.shipyardhhi.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Alligator-tent-card.pdf
[20]https://www.backwaterreptiles.com/alligators/alligator-for-sale.html
[21]https://news.yahoo.com/much-unusual-pets-actually-cost-171426209.html
[22]https://news.wttw.com/2019/07/11/chicago-alligator-humboldt-park-fun-facts-alligators
[23]https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/american-alligator
[24]https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-12-03/want-to-buy-a-crocodile-one-could-be-yours-for-just-1-100
[25]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alligator
[26]https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/a/Alligator.htm
[27]https://owlcation.com/stem/Types-of-Alligators
[28]https://abcnews.go.com/US/alligators-north-carolina-poke-nose-ice-survive-freezing/story%3Fid%3D52233678
[29]https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/os-ne-frozen-alligators-oklahoma-snouts-ice-winter-storm-20210219-2mua6ss3pzcpfgrf2juktgcnru-story.html
[30]https://cbs58.com/news/the-bizarre-and-totally-scientific-way-that-alligators-breathe-in-icy-water