Alligator
Matt Freeman, Per, 2, 5/9/16
Habitat
A lot of alligators spend a lot of their time in the water waiting for food they live in holes often called gator holes they dig the holes with their snouts and tails. They dig the holes 20 feet deep and they use them when its cold out and when its dry out They stay in there at those times is because its full of water and when it becomes too dry they abandon their den to go make a new one. When they leave other animals take over the den and live in it for their shelter.
Picture (Habitat Tracker).
Movement
Alligators use their short legs for walking and they can move very fast but just for short distances. Alligators swim by moving their tails side to side (world book pg 375) and they are also suited for life on land and water, but their stocky legs do slow them down on land.
Picture (Google images)
Body Covering
Alligators are like lizards in their shape and how they feel, but their bodies and tails are are bigger than a lizards because they can grow up to be 16 feet long and can weigh up to 1000 pounds, the heaviest alligator ever recorded was almost 1011 pounds. Alligators jaws are set with many sharp coned teeth. Their eyes stick up above their skulls so that alligators can see above the water while their bodies are beneath it and they also have a really good body defense. Their skin is is very strong and hard that's how they win a lot of fights and catch their food. When their prey attacks back, their skin is so hard they don't get hurt, that's why they can catch their food and not get hurt by their prey.
Picture (Google images)
Diet
Alligators are carnivores they eat fish, birds, turtles, snakes and mammals an alligator can not chew its food so it spins under water to rip off chunks off meat so it can swallow it the pieces it rips off and it drowns its prey to eat. (american Alligator)
Picture(Google images)
Reproduction
Alligators reproduce when they are 7 to 12 years old. The alligator usually breeds in between April and May. By June or July they lay 35-50 eggs and sometimes up to 90! Alligator nests are large and made of sticks and mud and plants.
Adaptations
Alligators adapt their lives in water because most of their features are for the water their webbed feet help them control them selves in the water while they are swimming and their skin color keeps them hidden in the murky water.
Picture (huffingtonpost.com)
Other Information
Rare Albino Alligator with sapphire eyes
(google images)
Crazy Gator attack
(google images)
American gator JAWS
(google images)