The American Alligator

1. The American Alligator Presented By: Catherine Dykes 4th Period Limnolgy

2. Introduction • The American Alligator breeds, lay’s eggs, develops young, and roams freely about the marshy swamps of the Everglades. • However, many American alligators are found in swimming pools and wet back yards all across American.

3. Where they originate from • American alligators are remnants of the prehistoric era. When dinosaurs became extinct. These modern dinosaurs have continued to grow and survive into the twenty first century. • Spanish explorers in the new world were the first Europeans to see an American alligator. • They named it El, Lagarto, or Lizard

4. POACHING • In 1962, Florida passed a state law that made poaching illegal. This protecting alligators from harm. • However poaching still continues today.

5. Maiting And Reproduction • Female American Alligators mate between April and May. They can usually mate with several different males in between those months. • They can lay, anywhere from thirty five to fifty eggs at a time. Nests have been found with as little as one to as much as eighty eight eggs. • For sixty-five days the mother guards her nest until the baby’s can protect themselves.

6. More Information • These are cold blooded animals. • They live both in and out of the water. • They feed on dead young. • When moving from place to place they carry their young in their mouths. • The sex of the young depends on temperature. If it is warm outside it will be male, if cold, Female.

7. Information CON. • American Alligators like to bask in the sun on the shores of swamps and lakes.To keep warm. • They also keep themselves cool by leaving their mouths open to keep cool.

8. Conclusion • In conclusion, by doing this project I found out more about my surroundings then ever before. People don’t really consider just how valuable one animal can be to this world. • Just remember just because it looks mean does not mean you have to kill it