What is the difference between an alligator and a crocodile - wikipedia
Alligators are complex creatures, capable of terrific attacks and yet tending to their young in the same gentle way a mother duck looks after her brood. Once extremely numerous, alligators came close to extinction in the twentieth century, but thanks to conservation efforts have since made a comeback, reclaiming their rightful place as the monarchs of the southern wetlands.
In this fascinating account, richly illustrated with more than photographs from award-winning wildlife photographer Wayne Lynch, expert zoologist Kent A. Alligators are primarily nocturnal and solitary reptiles known for their territorial nature. They spend much time in the sun regulating their body temperature, as they are cold-blooded.
Their behavior includes:. Alligators belong to a lineage that dates back over million years, surviving the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs. Their evolutionary adaptations, such as their powerful jaws, armored bodies, and ability to regulate metabolism, have enabled them to thrive for millions of years. Conservation of alligators involves habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, and public education programs.
Successful conservation strategies for the American Alligator serve as models for saving other endangered crocodilian species. Alligators are remarkable reptiles with a long evolutionary history and significant ecological importance. Understanding their behavior, diet, habitat, and role in the ecosystem helps us appreciate the need for their conservation and management.
By maintaining a balance between human development and wildlife preservation, we can ensure the survival of these ancient creatures for future generations. Crocodilian Biology Database. Archived from the original on 11 October Retrieved 18 September Biology and Evolution of Crocodylians. Claessens, Leon ed.
Bibcode : PLoSO Archived from the original on 23 May Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alligator. Look up alligator in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Wikiquote has quotations related to Alligators. Extant Crocodilian species. Family Alligatoridae Alligators and caimans. American alligator A. Spectacled caiman C. Black caiman M.
Cuvier's dwarf caiman P. Family Crocodylidae True crocodiles. American crocodile C. West African slender snouted crocodile Mecistops cataphractus Central African slender-snouted crocodile Mecistops leptorhynchus. Dwarf crocodile O. Family Gavialidae. Gharial G. False gharial T. Reptiles portal.
Extinct crocodilians. Basal crocodilians. Baru Harpacochampsa? Kalthifrons Kambara Mekosuchus Paludirex Quinkana? Trilophosuchus Ultrastenos Volia. Albertosuchus Arenysuchus?
Biography bibliography difference between alligators and dolphins
Asiatosuchus Borealosuchus? Brachyuranochampsa Charactosuchus "Crocodylus" acer "Crocodylus" affinis Portugalosuchus? Prodiplocynodon Planocraniidae? Deinosuchus Diplocynodon Leidyosuchus Listrognathosuchus. Albertochampsa Arambourgia Brachychampsa Ceratosuchus Deinosuchus? Eocaiman Hassiacosuchus Leidyosuchus? Navajosuchus Procaimanoidea?
Allognathosuchus Arambourgia?
Biography bibliography difference between alligators and people
Chrysochampsa Hassiacosuchus? Acresuchus Bottosaurus Brachychampsa? Centenariosuchus Ceratosuchus? Chinatichampsus Culebrasuchus Eocaiman? Tsoabichi Wannaganosuchus?
Biography bibliography difference between alligators and dinosaurs: An alligator, or colloquially gator, is a large reptile in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae of the order Crocodilia. The two extant species are the American alligator (A. mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator (A. sinensis).
Antecrocodylus Astorgosuchus Australosuchus? Aldabrachampsus Dzungarisuchus? Brochuchus "Crocodylus" gariepensis Euthecodon Rimasuchus Kinyang? Melitosaurus Paratomistoma? Aktiogavialis Dadagavialis Gavialosuchus? Gryposuchus Hanyusuchus Harpacochampsa? Hesperogavialis Ikanogavialis Maomingosuchus? See also: Brevirostres Gryposuchinae.
Related articles on alligators , caimans , crocodiles and gharials. Fatal alligator attacks Crocodile attacks Crocodile farm Crocodile tears Famous crocodiles and alligators Sewer alligator. Taxon identifiers. Authority control databases. Hidden categories: CS1 maint: archived copy as title CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata Wikipedia pages semi-protected against vandalism Articles with 'species' microformats Articles containing Spanish-language text Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from August Commons category link is on Wikidata Webarchive template wayback links.
Biography bibliography difference between alligators and sharks
Toggle the table of contents. An American alligator top and a Chinese alligator. Alligator Cuvier , Alligator mississippiensis Daudin , In Florida, feeding wild alligators at any time is illegal. If fed, the alligators will eventually lose their fear of humans and will learn to associate humans with food, thereby becoming both a greater danger to people, and at greater risk from them.
Biography bibliography difference between alligators
Alligators are native only to the United States [ 9 ] and China. American alligators live mostly in the southeast United States. American alligators cannot live in saltwater very long because they do not have salt glands. Once, the American alligator was endangered. The species made a major recovery and are now thriving in many wilderness areas. The alligator is the state reptile of Florida , and is a symbol of the state.
The Chinese alligator currently is found only in Eastern China, in a small area in the Yangtze River basin along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean. The Chinese alligator is extremely endangered.
Scientists believe that only a few dozen Chinese alligators are left in the wild. Indeed, far more Chinese alligators live in zoos around the world than in the wild. Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in southern Louisiana has several in captivity in an attempt to preserve the species. Miami MetroZoo in Florida also has a breeding pair of Chinese alligators.
American alligators were once an endangered species in the United States. By the s, there were fewer alligators in the United States than ever before. This happened because of alligator hunting and because people were building over alligators' habitats. In , the United States government listed the alligator as endangered. This meant the alligator was in danger of becoming extinct.
Today, the American alligator is no longer endangered, but it is still a "protected species. Because of this, killing alligators, and trading in products made from alligator meat or skin, are all regulated by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Alligators and crocodiles are different in many ways. For example, in general: [ 16 ].