### animal | vertebrate | reptile | crocodilian | alligator:

Chinese alligator
* Most chinese alligators absorb heat
* Some chinese alligators live in zoos.
* are a critically endangered species
  - dormant from late fall into early spring, when temperatures are cool
  - quite prolific in captivity
  - thought to be the most docile of the crocodilians
  - yellowish gray in color with pronounced black spotting of the lower jaw
* breed once a year.
* live in a subtropical, temperate region.

Female alligator
* Most female alligators remain in areas
  - small areas
* Some female alligators build habitats.
* Some female alligators have average levels
  - estrogen levels
* are particularly aggressive when guarding their nests.
* build their vegetation nests after mating.

Large alligator
* Some large alligators attack humans.
* attack animals.
* bask along the edge of lakes and wetlands.

Male alligator
* Most male alligators dig holes
  - exhibit movement
  - weigh pounds
* Some male alligators have ranges
  - reach feet
* are larger than female alligators.
* grow faster than and larger than females.

### animal | vertebrate | reptile | crocodilian | alligator:

Young alligator
* Most young alligators consume fish
  - eat insects
  - remain in areas
* Some young alligators reach feet.
* are actually dark brown or black
  - an easy prey to carnivorous fish, birds and mammals
* are black above, with bright stripes and blotches of yellow
  - with bright yellow blotches and stripes
  - called hatchlings
  - eaten by raccoons, large fish, birds and other alligators
* begin development as hard-shelled eggs laid in a nest.
* can be more colorful with yellow or white highlights on a black body.
* eat insects, fish and frogs
* feed mostly on insects, snails, frogs and small fish
  - on insects, frog and fish
* grow about one foot per year for the first few years.

### animal | vertebrate | reptile | crocodilian:

Caiman
* Caimen burrow into mud
  - catch food
  - eat fish
* Caimen have behavior
  - brown eyes
  - diets
  - maternal behavior
  - molar teeth
  - narrow snouts
  - protective behavior
  - scaly skin
  - senses
  - shapes
  - strong teeth
* Caimen includes brains
  - breasts
  - cell membranes
  - cells
  - chest cavities
  - chests
  - corpi
  - cytoplasm
  - ears
  - faces
  - heads
  - nuclei
  - pedal extremities
  - plasma membranes
  - rib cages
  - sections
  - skulls
  - sterna
  - vacuoles
  - vertebrate feet
  - live in rivers
  - resemble alligators
* Caimen use burrows
  - mouths
* Most caimen burrow into mud
* Most caimen have brown eyes
* Most caimen use burrows
* Some caimen eat aquatic insects
  - mollusks
  - feed at nights
* Some caimen have bony ridges
  - dark spots
  - kill jaguars
* Some caimen reach maturity
  - sexual maturity
  - thrive in rivers
* are a group of alligators found only in central and South America
  - type of crocodilian ranging throughout South America and into Southern Mexico
* are also a lot more active than alligators
  - very different from alligators
  - found throughout the country of South America and along the Gulf of Mexico
* are generally very aggressive animals
  - agressive animals
  - hard to find
  - nocturnal, preferring to hunt at night
  - powerful reptiles with a keen bite and often a mean disposition
  - solitary creatures that gather only during the mating season
  - well adapted to the life in water
* eat a variety of invertebrates such as insects, crustaceans, and mollusks
  - frogs, fish, birds and small mammals
* have a slightly narrower head than alligators
  - few natural predators because of their size and aggressive temper
  - long lifespan
  - very little enemies
* is member of the alligator family in South America.
* reptile that is closely related to alligators and crocodiles.
* tend to prefer freshwater, although some species are tolerant of more saline conditions.
* usually feed on small fish, insects and snails.