Alligators Los caimánes en la Florida

All About
n

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 Is a powerful reptile descended from dinosaurs 

that lived more than 200 million years ago. n Derives its name from the Spanish word for lizard, el lagarto. 

n Is a species of special concern in Florida; listed federally as threatened due to its similarity in appearance to the American crocodile.n Is a cold-blooded animal (ectotherm) like snakes, lizards and turtles, and may not eat for months when temperatures are below 73 ̊ F.n Basks in the sun to warm its scaly body. n Is darkly colored, with a broad snout and large ridges on its back and tail called scutes (pronounced scoots). 

n Lives for 30 to 35 years in the wild; can live for more than 50 years in captivity. n As a male, can weigh more than 1,000 pounds and grow as long as 19 feet.

n Creates ‘gator holes that support fish and other wildlife during the dry season. n Eats just about anything — fish, birds, turtles, crabs, raccoons, dogs, cats, snakes, dead animals and even other alligators.n Stalks and drowns or crushes its prey quickly and silently.n Has jaws strong enough to crush the shell of a turtle. n Rips and swallows its food but cannot chew. n Can stay below water for more than 2 hours during winter.n Swims very fast and is capable of lunging on land.n Moves on land by lifting its body and walking or running on its toes. 

n Lives in fresh and brackish water, including golf course water hazards, canals, lakes, marshes, swamps, rivers, creeks, and ponds. n Has 4 short legs, with 5 toes on its front feet and 4 webbed toes on its hind feet that assist with swimming. n Becomes sexually mature at 6 feet in length. Males travel far, in water or on land, to find a mate.n Constructs a nest of sticks, leaves and mud to incubate her eggs for about 65 days. The temperature of the nest determines the gender of the babies. Lower temperatures produce females; higher temperatures yield males.n Unlike most female reptiles, guards her nest until her 20 to 50 eggs hatch, and protects her young fiercely.

The American alligator

(Alligator mississippiensis)

All alligators, wherever 

you may encounter them, 

are potentially dangerous 

and you should avoid them. 

A SPECIAL THANKS 

TO our sponsors:

Kiwanis Club of Sanibel-Captiva Islands

Illustrations by 

Dave Anderson

© 2010, L. Lagarto
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Alligators live in fresh and brackish water — golf course water hazards, canals, lakes, marshes

swamps, rivers, creeks, and ponds — all of which are prevalent in the State of Florida

Caimánes viven en lagos, canales, rios, pantanos, campos de golf 

y en otros sitios con agua fresca o ligeramente salada 

CAUTION

DO NOT: – Approach – Feed

– Harass

$500FINE
4 Male alligators can weigh more than __________ pounds and grow as long as ________ feet

Caimánes masculinos puenden pesar más de ______ libras y pueden crecer más de ______ pies

ALLIGATOR THE AMAZING

Answers on page 2

How big can he get?

100 pounds250 pounds500 pounds750 pounds

1,000 pounds

15 feet 19 feet23 feet27 feet31 feet
 Female alligators protect their nests and young

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Una mamá protégé su hábitat y sus crías
6 Alligators can’t tell the difference between food and the hand that offers it Caimánes no saben la diferencia entre comida y la mano que ofrece esa comida
7 Hand-fed alligators lose their fear of humans

Caimánes no tienen miedo a las personas quienes les dan comida

DO NOT FEED! $500 fine and/or 60 days in jail
8 As Masters of the Marsh, alligators maintain a balance among species. 

They find plenty of food in their habitat and don’t need humans to feed them.
9 Como dueños del pantano, caimánes mantienen un equilibrio sober especies. Ellos 

encuentran comida en sus hábitates y no necesitan que seres humanos les den comida. 
10 Many animals use ‘gator holes during the dry season

Muchos animales usan hoyos donde viven caimánes cuando hay sequías
11 Avoid approaching alligators or crouching near fresh/brackish water

No te acercas a los caimánes o a los lugares donde ellos viven
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Children should never play near or in brackish/fresh water

Niños nunca deben de jugar en agua fresca o ligeramente salada. No deben de jugar cerca de estos sitios tampoco.
13 Pets should be leashed and kept away from fresh/brackish water

No dejas que tu perro o animal doméstico se acerca a agua fresca o ligeramente salada
14 Swim only in designated areas

Puedes nadar solamente en zonas que han sido declaradas para natación

Swimming Area
15 Dense vegetation along fresh/brackish water discourages alligators from entering your yard Vegetación tupida a lo largo de agua fresca o ligeramente salada puede impedie a los caimánes de entrar a tú patio
Ahand-fed alligator...cannot tell the difference between a piece of food and the hand that offers it...loses its fear of humans...becomes a nuisance...will be trapped and destroyed. This powerful reptile may attack anything or anybody that enters its territory, so pets and humans of all ages must stay away from fresh and brackish water everywhere in Florida. For more information, visit www.MyFWC.com/gators The End Contrary to popular belief, a human cannot elude an alligator by running in a zig-zag pattern.