Wilderness Portraits Archive by Lloyd Paul Aiello

Alligator and a Fly

An American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) remains so motionless among the arrowhead plants (Sagittaria sp.) while hunting in a Florida marsh that a fly has landed and is walking across the Alligator’s nose. The American Alligator is the largest reptile in North America and is endemic to the southeastern United States ranging from Texas to North Carolina. Adults can be up to 16 feet long (5 m) and can weigh 1,320 pounds (600 kg). They will prey on anything that comes in or near the water including documented successful attacks on fish, turtles, crabs, birds, muskrats, racoons, dogs, cats, wild boars, bobcats, deer, calves and humans. They will also eat fruit. Adult alligators also spend considerable time hunting on land, up to 170 feet (50 m) from water, ambushing terrestrial animals on trail-sides and road shoulders. Such terrestrial hunting generally occurs on warm nights. The alligator is capable of biting though a turtle's shell or a moderately sized mammal bone. American alligators have been documented to use lures to hunt birds. By balancing sticks and branches on their heads, American alligators are able to lure, catch and consume birds looking for suitable nesting material. During the breeding season, alligators bellow to declare territory and locate suitable mates, with males using infrasound to attract females. From 20 – 50 eggs are laid in a nest of vegetation, sticks, leaves, and mud in a sheltered spot in or near the water. Those eggs which are hatched at a temperature of 93 °F (34 °C) or more become males, while those at experiencing temperatures of 86 °F (30 °C) or lower become female. Young are born with yellow bands around their bodies and are protected by their mother for up to one year. Young alligators grow 3 - 8 inches (7.6 - 20.3 cm) a year and reach adulthood at 6 ft (1.8 m).

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Filename: _LPA6052-Edit-american-alligator-fly-arrowhead-marsh.tif
Image Size: 6403x4273 / 131.7MB; www.WildernessPortraits.com; Florida Orlando activity alert alligator ambushing animal behavior animals arrowhead black brown challenge close-up color danger descriptors fly format green hiding horizontal identification insects master places plants portrait reptiles resting scary season spring stalking state-city-location type view
Contained in galleries: Recent Additions, Favorite Wilderness Portraits Images, Wildlife Portraits

An American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) remains so motionless among the arrowhead plants (Sagittaria sp.) while hunting in a Florida marsh that a fly has landed and is walking across the Alligator’s nose. The American Alligator is the largest reptile in North America and is endemic to the southeastern United States ranging from Texas to North Carolina. Adults can be up to 16 feet long (5 m) and can weigh 1,320 pounds (600 kg). They will prey on anything that comes in or near the water including documented successful attacks on fish, turtles, crabs, birds, muskrats, racoons, dogs, cats, wild boars, bobcats, deer, calves and humans. They will also eat fruit. Adult alligators also spend considerable time hunting on land, up to 170 feet (50 m) from water, ambushing terrestrial animals on trail-sides and road shoulders. Such terrestrial hunting generally occurs on warm nights. The alligator is capable of biting though a turtle's shell or a moderately sized mammal bone. American alligators have been documented to use lures to hunt birds. By balancing sticks and branches on their heads, American alligators are able to lure, catch and consume birds looking for suitable nesting material. During the breeding season, alligators bellow to declare territory and locate suitable mates, with males using infrasound to attract females. From 20 – 50 eggs are laid in a nest of vegetation, sticks, leaves, and mud in a sheltered spot in or near the water. Those eggs which are hatched at a temperature of 93 °F (34 °C) or more become males, while those at experiencing temperatures of 86 °F (30 °C) or lower become female. Young are born with yellow bands around their bodies and are protected by their mother for up to one year. Young alligators grow 3 - 8 inches (7.6 - 20.3 cm) a year and reach adulthood at 6 ft (1.8 m).