Alligators

Introduction

In this you part, you will be learning about alligators and how amazing they are. The things you will be learning about are what alligators eat, how tough an alligator skin is, if an alligator can survive in saltwater, and how alligators catch it’s prey. Hope you like this!

What do alligators eat?

Alligators are mainly carnivores, but they will eat anything from sticks to cans. They also eat turtles, crabs, snakes, frogs, snails, insects, and many more things. They eat just about anything that comes near the water. Alligators have been known to hold food in their mouth until it degenerates enough to swallow.

How tough is alligator skin?

Male and female alligators both have an armored body with a muscular tail. The back is armored with bony plates called scutes, or osteoderms. The tough leathery skin is barely protected from bullets. The safest place on an alligator is the bony scutes, or osteoderms, under the alligator’s skin.

Can an alligator survive in saltwater?

Alligators can tolerate saltwater for a few hours, sometimes even for a few days. Alligators are more of a freshwater animal than a saltwater animal. Alligators prefer swamps, rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds over something like the ocean or any other saltwater habitat.

What is an alligators predators?

The first years of an alligator’s life can be very dangerous because almost anything can eat an alligator at this age. Its predators include snakes, wading birds, ospreys, raccoons, otters, garfish, and larger alligators. Even bass would eat an alligator this age! Once it gets 4 feet long its only real predator is human. Its skin protects from most attacks, but its skin is why humans hunt the alligators. They use the skin to create wallets, boots, and other accessories.

How does an alligator catch its prey?

Some alligators set traps to catch its prey. For example, they block part of the stream, forcing turtles and fish to go around. When they go around, then SNAP! The alligator catches its prey in one swift bite. Another trap an alligator sets is they line up on the stream. When the fish and turtles swim by, they catch and eat the fish and turtles. For bigger prey, they wait for it on the riverbank. When it gets near enough then they bite it and drag it down in the water where it's drowned and devoured.