Thus, they regulate the population of prey species in the area. In their habitat, alligators are one of the species that play a key role in the environment. The ICUN classifies this species as Least Concern (LC). The overall population of the American alligator counts up to 5.000.000 individuals throughout the southeast of the USA, 1.25 million of which live in Florida. In addition to this, currently, there are large commercial farms where American alligators are raised as a profitable source of high-quality meat and skin.
#Are alligators nocturnal skin#
And not only their skin is in demand, but also their meat is popular in the food industry. However, alligators’ skin is nowadays highly valued, serving as a material for boots, shoes, wallets, and purses. Perhaps, if not the human intervention, American alligators would never have been threatened. The federal government has listed American alligators as threatened due to their similarity with American crocodiles: the latter is endangered and thus the federal government tries to protect them from being confused by hunters. During the cold season, when the water begins to freeze, American alligators go into a period of brumation they stick their snouts through the surface, which allows them to breathe above the ice, and they can remain in this state for several days. In the water, American alligators swim like fish, moving their pelvic regions and tails from side to side. They also have two forms of land locomotion that can be termed the "low walk" and the "high walk". When on land, American alligators move either by sprawling or walking, the latter involving the reptile lifting its belly off the ground. Smaller ones, however, keep closer to each other. Large individuals of the American alligator, especially males, defend the territory and lead a solitary lifestyle. Their homes - dens - are big holes in the ground. During the day they often bask on shore, but also climb into and perch on tree limbs to bask if no shoreline is available. In addition, alligators are highly sensitive to toxin, thus serving as good indicators.American alligators are both diurnal and nocturnal animals. For example, red-bellied turtle uses nests, left by alligators. On the other hand, dens or caves, that they excavate, benefit other animals in area. Thus, they regulate population of prey species in the area.
In their habitat, alligators are one of the species that play key role in the environment.
The overall population of the American alligator counts up to 5.000.000 individuals throughout south-east of USA, 1.25 million of which live in Florida. In addition to this, currently there are large commercial farms where American alligators are raised as a profitable source of high-quality meat and skin. And not only their skin is in demand, but also their meat is popular in food industry. However, alligators’ skin is nowadays highly valued, serving as a material for boots, shoes, wallets and purses. The federal government has listed American alligator as threatened due to its similarity with American crocodile: the latter is endangered and thus the federal government tries to protect them from being confused by hunters. REPRODUCTION SEASON: starts in the middle of spring and lasts until May American alligators reach maturity at the age of 10-12 years, when they attain a length of 6 feet. Until the youngsters are under the age of 1 year, the mother protects them from predators, after which the female leaves hatchlings, tending to lay new eggs in the following breeding season. Incubation period lasts 65 days, whereupon baby-alligators hatch out of eggs. Then, two months later, at the end of June – beginning of July they lay 35-50 eggs. Mating season starts in the middle of spring and lasts until May, after which females start building nests of vegetation. They try to scare away each other, demonstrating open jaws and colliding with heads. Males of this species are especially careful to defend the territory from other males, particularly during the season of breeding. one male can mate more than 10 females within his home range.
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