Alligators seem to show up in the news all the time. For example, a quick search of the Google News site today (January 26, 2004) displayed these two recent headlines:
- "Fish, alligators, turtles bring state $200 million a year"
- "Night Club Owners Scrap Plans To Display Alligators"
Alligators also show up in movies and
TV shows. And, if you live in any of the southern states of the U.S. -- states like Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana -- you may even see alligators swimming down at the local pond.
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No wonder they eat whatever moves when they are hungry - alligators can go two to three years without eating.
See more alligator pictures. |
It turns out that alligators are absolutely amazing animals. They have been around for millions of years, and they are about as close as humans will ever get to seeing a living dinosaur. The reason they have survived so long is that they are nearly perfect animals for their environment. For example:
- Alligators can survive two to three years without eating.
- Alligators are one of the few reptiles today that care for their young.
- Alligators have vibration sensors on their skin that are extremely sensitive -- they can detect even the slightest vibration and get out of harm's way long before it arrives.
On the other hand, alligators can be quite dangerous. They are instinctual living machines. An alligator's brain weighs only 8 or 9 grams and would take up only one-half of a tablespoon. This lack of brain power means there is no such thing as a "nice alligator". If it is hungry, an alligator will eat anything that moves. Pets and children who wander near an alligator pond are frequent victims of this instinctive behavior.
In this article, you will have a chance to get up close and personal with these living dinosaurs and understand what has made them so successful for millions of years!
