![]() What do alligators eat?Īlligators aren't picky about what they eat. American alligators can swim up to 20 mph (32.18 km/h) and run on land as fast as 11 mph (17.7 km/h), according to the San Diego Zoo. This makes it easier for them to catch prey. On land they may look awkward, but in the water they can swim very quickly using their tails. Related: Alligators in Oklahoma turn into 'popsicles' sticking out of the frozen waterĪlligators also use water to hunt. In some cases, if the water freezes over, they may "snorkel," keeping their noses sticking out above a frozen sheet of ice. When it gets too cold, American alligators have also been known to spend more time in the water, which holds some warmth longer than the outside air. On sunny days, they can use the edges of bodies of water to warm up, or enter the water to cool down. That means that they are unable to control their temperature internally. Like most reptiles, they are ectothermic or cold-blooded. These groups are typically seen basking in the sun or taking a swim.Īlligators regulate their temperature externally. ![]() What do alligators do?Īlligators are social creatures and often gather in groups called congregations. Much of their habitat has been converted to rice paddies. They are traditionally found in rivers, lakes, ponds and swamps, but are now confined mostly to ditches and ponds on agricultural land. These gators can be found in slow-moving rivers, ponds, lakes and swamps.Ĭhinese alligators live in eastern China, and are confined to a small area in the Yangtze River basin near the Pacific Ocean, according to the Saint Louis Zoo. The American alligator lives in the southern United States from eastern Texas and Oklahoma to North Carolina, and are well known throughout Florida, according to the Smithsonian Zoo. An alligator rests with eyes and nostrils emerging from the water in the Florida keys.
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