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​ALLIGATORS
Reptile      -      Vertebrate     -      Carnivore
Male:  Bull
Female:  Cow
Young:  Hatchling
ALLIGATORS
Are native to only two countries - the United States and China
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  • Live in fresh-water environments - ponds, marshes, wetlands, rivers, lakes and swamps.  
  • Are cold-blooded.
  • Feed mostly at night.  They eat fish, birds, turtles and, sometime, deer.
  • Have been living on earth for millions of years and are described as 'living fossils'.
  • Can weigh as much as 1,000 lbs.
  • Eggs become male or female depending upon the temperature  - male in warmer temperatures (90 - 93 degrees) and female in cooler temperatures (82 - 88 degrees).
  • Are born with one extra-long tooth - an 'egg tooth'.  This tooth enables them to break out of their shells.
  • An adult human could hold the jaws of an alligator shut with their bare hands and the alligator's jaw muscles are quite weak.
  • Balance twigs on their noses to lure birds looking for nest-building materials.
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Picture
AMERICAN ALLIGATORS