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American Alligator Research Paper

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Name: Humans have been giving common names to plants and animals for as far back as cavemen go. It has been no different for the American Alligator commonly known as the “gator”. The name “Alligator,” according to Kelby Ouchley, is an Anglicized term from the Spanish word “lagarto” (lizard). This name can be traced back to early Spanish explorers in North America, who came across the giant lizard looking type of animal. In 1802 the renowned French herpetologist, Francois Marie Daudin, officially described the American Alligator as Alligator Mississippiensis. The term Mississippiensis comes from the Mississippi river where many of these lizard like creatures were found and the Latin term ensis meaning “belonging to.” Description: It is very …show more content…

According to the Smithsonian Zoological Park one of the features that makes American Alligators unique is “The large fourth tooth in the lower jaw of an alligator which fits into a socket in the upper jaw and is not visible when the mouth is closed.” As the teeth of the American Alligator wear down they get replaced which can lead to replacing their teeth over 2,000 times in their lives. The American Alligator has nostrils that stick up further than the rest of the snout, this is so they can breathe while the rest of their body is under water. The eyes of the American Alligator consist of upper and lower eyelids that protect them. They have a third eyelid, which protects its eyes when they swim underwater. Alligator eyes have also developed to see in the dark by reflecting light back into its own eyes. The American Alligator is also covered in an armor like coat called osteoderms or scutes. They have short legs with five toes on the front legs and four in the hind legs. The front toes are about half webbed and the outer hind toes are about two thirds webbed which allows them to swim with ease. The majority of all American Alligators are black or a dull gray with some lighter blotches on the sides and a light yellow underbelly. One of the most important features of the America Alligator is its muscular tail. Their tail is used to propel them out of the water, to swim fast, and to death …show more content…

One can conclude that the alligator has been superbly adaptable to change. In the late 1800’s it became very common to hunt alligators for their skin. The “gator” population began to decrease and even disappeared from certain areas around the southern east side of the United States (a place where they used to thrive by the millions). It is estimated that between 1930 and 1940, more than 1 million alligators were killed in Florida. In the late 1940’s people began to fear that alligators would become extinct which is why laws were passed in states where alligators lived, only allowing the hunting of “gators” during certain times of the year and with specific permits. In the late 1950’s people realized that the laws were not being held with high standards and states such as Louisiana declared it illegal to kill alligators. The campaign to save the alligator was finally working and by the mid 1970’s the alligator was taken off the U.S. endangered species list. Today, alligators are thriving, however certain geographical areas such as the everglades, are becoming more populated by humans; thus, increasing interactions between humans and alligators. This could destroy their habitat and endanger the

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