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Evolutionary Adaptations of Alligators

There are two living species of alligator. The American alligator lives in freshwater habitats throughout southeastern parts of the United States. The smaller Chinese alligator inhabits China's Yangtze River basin. American alligators were once endangered but have recovered and are now abundant. Chinese alligators, however, are critically endangered due to habitat loss. Both species are highly adapted to be able to hunt and survive in their natural habitats.

Mouth
- Alligators have large, strong jaws that are used to catch, bite and crush prey such as fish, turtles, mammals and birds. The size of the alligator's jaws helps the animal swallow its food. The flat shape of the jaws prevents them from disturbing the water and revealing the alligator's location when it is hunting. Alligators use their pointed teeth to catch their prey. Alligator mouths contain up to 80 teeth at one time. As teeth are lost, they are replaced by new ones. A single alligator may use up to 3,000 teeth over the course of its life.
Facial Anatomy
- The alligator's facial features are arranged in a way that helps to keep them protected while it is underwater. Alligators have nostrils and eyes on the tops of their heads. That allows the gator to remain above the surface of the water while the rest of its body is submerged. While this helps to protect the alligator's organs, it also helps it to remain inconspicuous when hunting. Membranes that cover the alligator's eyes provide further protection for the eyes. When the alligator is completely submerged, valves allow the nostrils and ears to close and become completely watertight.
Osteoderms
- The bumps on an alligator's skin contain small plates made from bones. These plates are known as osteoderms. As a result, the skin that covers an alligator's body provides the animal with a type of armor that is very difficult for attackers to penetrate.
Tail
- Alligators have long, muscular tails. Young alligators have yellow stripes on their tails that darken as they reach maturity. The alligator's strong, flat tail helps it to move through water quietly and effectively. The powerful tail can also be used to attack other animals. Alligators also use their tails to excavate the holes that they use for shelter and to collect emergency water reserves.
Temperature Control
- As alligators are cold blooded and rely on external heat sources to warm their bodies, they have developed a range of behavioural adaptations that allow them to control their body temperatures. When temperatures become too hot or cold for alligators, they protect themselves by sheltering in the gator holes that they excavate by bodies of water. Although alligators do not truly hibernate, they do enter a state of dormancy within the shelter of a gator hole if temperatures drop significantly in winter. Fat reserves stored in an alligator's tail help the animal to survive low temperatures and periods of food scarcity. Alligators change their behavior depending on temperature. For example, alligators spend much of the day basking in the sun as temperatures begin to increase after the cold period, but they may be more active at night when temperatures peak in the middle of summer.

Animals & Science