Alligator - definition of alligator by The Free Dictionary Alligator - definition of alligator by The Free Dictionary Related to alligator: Chinese alligator al·li·ga·tor (ăl′ĭ-gā′tər) n. 1. Either of two large semiaquatic reptiles, Alligator mississipiensis of the southeast United States or A. sinensis of China, having sharp teeth and powerful jaws. They differ from crocodiles in having a broader, shorter snout. 2. Leather made from the hide of one of these reptiles. 3. A tool or fastener having strong, adjustable, often toothed jaws. [Alteration of Spanish el lagarto, the lizard : el, the (from Latin ille, that; see al-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots) + lagarto, lizard (from Latin lacertus).] alligator (ˈælɪˌɡeɪtə) n 1.

(Animals) a large crocodilian, Alligator mississipiensis, of the southern US, having powerful jaws and sharp teeth and differing from the crocodiles in having a shorter and broader snout: family Alligatoridae (alligators and caymans) 2. (Animals) a similar but smaller species, A. sinensis, occurring in China near the Yangtse River 3. (Animals) any crocodilian belonging to the family Alligatoridae 4. (Tools) any of various tools or machines having adjustable toothed jaws, used for gripping, crushing, or compacting [C17: from Spanish el lagarto the lizard, from Latin lacerta] al•li•ga•tor (ˈæl ɪˌgeɪ tər) n. either of two crocodilians of the genus Alligator, of the southeastern U.S. and E China, characterized by a broad snout.

[1560–70; < Sp el lagarto the lizard < Vulgar Latin *ille that + *lacartus, for Latin lacertus lizard ] al·li·ga·tor (ăl′ĭ-gā′tər) A large, meat-eating, aquatic reptile having sharp teeth and powerful jaws. Alligators have a broader, shorter snout than crocodiles, and their teeth do not show when the jaws are closed. There are two species of alligators: one living in the southeast United States and one living in China. alligator - From Spanish el lagarto, "the lizard," which may have come from Latin lacerta; the alligator has a shorter, blunter snout than a crocodile. See also related terms for shorter . ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: SCDNR - Species: American Alligator American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) Description The name "alligator" comes from the Spanish "el lagarto," meaning lizard.

English speakers, through mispronunciation, first converted the term to "aligarto" and later to "alligator." The American alligator is black in color with rows of rough scales, or scutes, along its back. The reptile's belly is creamy white, and its eyes are light brown. It can be differentiated from the American crocodile by its large, broad snout. Unlike adults, young alligators have several yellow and white bands along their bodies. Alligators that shared the earth with dinosaurs 180 million years ago looked almost the same and played similar ecological functions as their present-day relatives. The largest alligator on record measured 5.8 meters (19 feet 2 inches) and the heaviest, taken in recent times near Gainesville, Florida, weighed 473 kilograms (1,043 lbs). However, such large and heavy animals are quite uncommon. Preferred Habitat and Biology Along the Atlantic coast, American alligators are distributed from the Florida Everglades to North Carolina. They also inhabit wetland areas in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. In South Carolina, American alligators make extensive use of the state's coastal marshlands, with the ACE Basin being one of the most important nesting areas.

High quality alligator habitat found on the coast was created as a result of wetland alteration during the rice-growing era. Rice was introduced to Charleston, South Carolina, around 1680, resulting in the clearing of forested, tidal swamps. Ditch and dike construction permanently altered natural drainage patterns and caused extensive change in wetland plant communities. After the rice industry's demise in the early 1900s, abandoned, diked fields began to deteriorate; however, some dikes and water-control structures were repaired and maintained by sportsmen as waterfowl hunting areas. Today, these impoundments support the highest alligator population and nest densities found in the ACE Basin and the state. Alligator populations gradually decline inland because habitats are seasonally flooded and prey density is reduced. American alligators are cold-blooded animals, but generally are active year round in South Carolina. Breeding season for the American alligator varies throughout its range because the onset coincides with warmer weather. Nest site selection, construction, maintenance, and protection are important activities in the life of a female alligator. In South Carolina, the majority of nest construction and egg laying takes place during the month of June.

Nests are located on high ground, 1 to 5 meters (3 to 18 ft) from the water's edge, and consist of a large mound of mud and crushed vegetation. In the ACE Basin, most alligator nests are found in managed impoundments and, to a lesser extent, in remnant impoundments and unaltered marshes. Most nests within impoundments are located on remnant dikes. Nest material is from surrounding vegetation, which is typically giant cordgrass (Spartina cynosuroides) and nests are about 1.5-1.8 m (5-6 feet) in diameter and average 0.5 m (20 in) in height. Once the mound is complete, the female digs a conical chamber in the center of the mound and deposits 40-45 eggs into the chamber. Several layers of mud and vegetation are then added and compacted atop the egg chamber. Inside it, the eggs are kept at a constant temperature as a result of heat produced by decomposition of the nesting material. Sex of alligators is determined by nest temperatures during the middle third of embryo development.

Females are produced at temperatures less than 31.5oC; mixed sex ratios occur at 32oC, and males only are produced when temperatures are between 32.5 and 33oC. Decreasing numbers of males are produced as temperatures approach 35oC, a temperature beyond which only females are produced. Incubation periods average between 63 and 65 days, but can be as long as 77 days. Hatching success averages approximately 70% in South Carolina. Hatchling alligators average about 24 cm (10 in) in total length and weigh 45-55 g (1.5-2.0 ounces). After hatching, juvenile alligators remain together in a group called a pod or creche, which may remain together for up to three years. Both sexes grow to about 122 cm (4 ft) by age 5. After this age, female growth begins to slow, presumably channeling energy towards reproduction, while males continue to grow fairly rapidly.

By age 25, males on average measure 316 cm (10 ft 4 in) and females average 253 cm (8 ft 3 in). Males can reach lengths greater than 394 cm (13 ft) while females rarely exceed 290 cm (9 ft 6 in). Males and females become sexually active when approximately 2.1-2.7 meters (7-9 ft) in length. Alligator food habits vary by size class, with prey size increasing as alligators get larger. Hatchlings initially depend upon a yolk reserve but will begin feeding almost immediately on invertebrates such as insects, crustaceans, and snails and on small fish. As they grow, larger foods such as snakes, larger insects and frogs become common. Adults feed on aquatic organisms and animals that come to the water's edge to drink. In estuarine habits, the most common adult food item is blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus). Alligators are also known to feed on dead animals or carrion. Once alligators reach adulthood, they are top-level carnivores and have no natural predators.

Raccoons (Procyon lotor), wading birds, and deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are prey items of the largest animals. Species Significance In South Carolina, the harvest of American alligators for both food and leather remained unregulated until the 1950s. In 1955, alligators benefited from a law, originally intended to protect deer, that banned night shooting. By the early 1960s, in an effort to reduce poaching, alligator trappers were required by law to possess a license and tags. However, numbers of American alligators in South Carolina continued to decline, resulting in the closure of the season in 1964. Poaching continued even after inclusion of the species in the Endangered Species Protection Act of 1966 and the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969. Finally, in 1970, American alligators were included under the Lacey Act of 1900, which prohibited the transport of illegally collected mammals and birds across state boundaries.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, alligators continued to be protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and were listed as endangered in coastal areas of South Carolina and threatened elsewhere in the state. In 1987, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service changed its status to one of "threatened upon similarity of appearance." This was necessary because, even though the species was no longer endangered at that time, such a status would indirectly provide protection to the American crocodile. In 1988, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources implemented a Nuisance Alligator Program. This program was established in an effort to alleviate increasing human-alligator encounters due to rapid urban development in coastal areas. After 31 years of closure, the alligator hunting season in South Carolina was re-opened in 1995. A permit, issued by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and valid for one year, is required for the marketing and possession of any alligator product. References Bara, M. O. 1976. American alligator investigations. Final Study Report. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Columbia, S.C.

Conant, R. 1975. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians of eastern and central North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA. Elsey, R. 1998. Personal communication. Louisiana Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries, Rockefeller Refuge, Grand Chenier, LA. Ferguson, M.J.W. and T. Joanen. 1983. Temperature dependent sex determination in Alligator mississippiensis. Journal Zoological Society of London 200:143-177. Ferguson, M.J.W and T. Joanen. 1982. Temperature of egg incubation determines sex in (Alligator mississippiensis). Nature 296:850-853. Grenard, S. 1991. Handbook of Alligators and Crocodiles. Krieger Publishing Co., Malabar, Florida. Lang, J. W. and H. V. Andrews. 1994 Temperature-dependent sex determination in crocodilians. Journal of Experimental Zoology 270:28-44. Murphy, T. M. and J. W. Coker.

1984. American alligator population studies in South Carolina. Study Completion Report. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Columbia, S.C. Murphy, S. H. and G. Barnette (eds). not dated. South Carolina's endangered species portfolio - American Alligator. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Diversity Section, Columbia, SC. Rhodes, W. E. and J. W. Lang. 1995. Sex ratios of naturally-incubated alligator hatchlings: field techniques and initial results. Proceeding of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 49:640-646. Rhodes, W. 1996. South Carolina Alligator Program 1996 Annual Report. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Wildlife Management Section. Strange, T.H. 1987. Goals and objectives of water level manipulations in impounded wetlands in South Carolina. pgs 130-137. In: W.R. Whitman and W.H. Meridith, eds.

Waterfowl and wetlands symposium: proceedings of a symposium on waterfowl and wetlands management in the coastal zone of the Atlantic Flyway. Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Dover, DE. Wilkinson, P. M. 1983. Nesting ecology of the American alligator in coastal South Carolina. Study Completion Report. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Columbia, S.C. Wilkinson, P. M. and W. E. Rhodes. 1992. Nesting habitat of American alligators in coastal South Carolina. Proceeding of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 46:260-265. Wilkinson, P. M. and W. E. Rhodes. 1997. Growth rates of American alligators in coastal South Carolina. Journal of Wildlife Management 61:397-402.

"Please Don't Feed (My Dad to) the Gators" by Rooney, Jackie - The Florida Times Union, August 13, 2005 | Online Research Library: Questia Article excerpt Byline: Jackie Rooney Gator phobia heads the list of reasons my father won't move from Maryland to live near the Rooney Bin. I assured him alligators don't bother people if they don't feed them or get too close. In fact, it's illegal to feed alligators in Florida. But Dad's certain a toothy predator is waiting for him to cross the state line for dinner, if you get my drift. The American alligator is the official Sunshine State reptile. Its name comes from the Spanish el lagarto, meaning the lizard. Although there are about 1.5 million alligator mississippiensis in Florida, for the most part they peacefully co-exist with about 16 million Floridians and about 77 million tourists. "Alligators are people-shy . . .

but they are dangerous, and it is illegal to disturb them," said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Gary Morse, who was quoted in a 2004 Tampa Tribune article by Thomas Krause: "When alligators aren't afraid of people, they become more likely to attack." A raucous reptile incident, illustrating just how dangerous alligators can be, occurred in Port Orange in July 2004, when a fight broke out between a man and his girlfriend after they ran out of beer. ABC News reported that he threw empty beer bottles at her. When she tried to run away, he hit her with his pet 3-foot-long alligator and the critter bit her. This wouldn't have happened if they'd been drinking Gatorade. "Since 1948, there have been 330 documented alligator attacks in Florida. Of those, only 13 resulted in a human death," Krause reported. Dad thinks it's safe up north, but Florida isn't the only state with a history of gator incidents. In February 1892, the Chicago Citizen reported a 5.5-foot-long alligator was found frozen on the bank of the Rock River in Wisconsin.

No one knows how the by then really cold-blooded critter made its way north. One theory claimed it was teleported from a hotter clime. Sounds to me like someone was drinking too much Old Milwaukee. Animal control officers removed a 5-foot-long gator from a Milwaukee home in March 2004. It's against the law to keep a gator as a pet in the Badger State. Too many of the big-mouth lizards would probably take a bite out of the badger population, and a new state nickname would be required. It's illegal -- just in case you were thinking of doing it -- to chain a gator to a fire hydrant in Michigan, and Illinois law forbids owning alligators too. On Aug. 4, WBBM TV-2 in Chicago reported reptile trouble in Joliet, Ill., where Pikachu the cat had an early morning standoff with a 4-foot-long alligator. Pikachu's owner called 911 and animal control officers took the critter into custody. They plan to release it into the wild in Florida or Louisiana. Hello Illinois, we have enough, thank you.

Alligators were the principal residents on the land where the 2 Marriott Resort was under construction 18 years ago, but Plantation residents Jeanette and Bruce Erdel needed a place to hold their daughter Ranelle's wedding, so they donned hard hats to tour the hotel. The wedding was held the first weekend of the Marriott's opening in October 1987, and Ranelle and Bob Wall were the first to be married there. Today, the resort is the site of more than 75 weddings a year. Ranelle, Bob and their children Hannah, 8, and Johnathan, 10, flew from Temecula, Calif. on Aug. 1 to visit family in the Jacksonville area and stay at the Marriott. A relative alerted Marriott personnel about the 18th anniversary, and Executive Chef Charles Charboneau and his staff produced a two-tier wedding cake and champagne for an impromptu reception at the Augustine Grille.

Toasting the couple were Director of Sales Chris Bracken, Director of Event Management Maryellen Williamson, Director of Human Resources Pat Bonner and staff Sharon Kelly, Khristine Dipple, Bryan Day, Whitney McGuire, Kym Gilliam, Dawn Crosby and Wil Serra. … Subscribe to Questia and enjoy: Full access to this article and over 10 million more from academic journals, magazines, and newspapers Over 83,000 books Access to powerful writing and research tools Article details Subscribe to Questia and enjoy: Full access to this article and over 10 million more from academic journals, magazines, and newspapers Over 83,000 books Access to powerful writing and research tools Article details Reptile Species American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis Description The name "alligator" comes from the Spanish "el lagarto," meaning lizard. English speakers, through mispronunciation, first converted the term to "aligarto" and later to "alligator." The American alligator is black in color with rows of rough scales, or scutes, along its back. The reptiles belly is creamy white, and its eyes are light brown.

It can be differentiated from the American crocodile by its large, broad snout. Unlike adults, young alligators have several yellow and white bands along their bodies. Alligators that shared the earth with dinosaurs 180 million years ago looked almost the same and played similar ecological functions as their present-day relatives. The largest alligator on record measured 5.8 meters (19 feet 2 inches) and the heaviest, taken in recent times near Gainesville, Florida, weighed 473 kilograms (1,043 lbs). However, such large and heavy animals are quite uncommon. Habitat and Biology Along the Atlantic coast, American alligators are distributed from the Florida Everglades to North Carolina. They also inhabit wetland areas in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. In South Carolina, American alligators make extensive use of the states coastal marshlands, with the ACE Basin being one of the most important nesting areas. High quality alligator habitat found on the coast was created as a result of wetland alteration during the rice-growing era. Rice was introduced to Charleston, South Carolina, around 1680, resulting in the clearing of forested, tidal swamps.

(See related section: History .) Ditch and dike construction permanently altered natural drainage patterns and caused extensive change in wetland plant communities. After the rice industry's demise in the early 1900s, abandoned, diked fields began to deteriorate; however, some dikes and water-control structures were repaired and maintained by sportsmen as waterfowl hunting areas. Today, these impoundments support the highest alligator population and nest densities found in the ACE Basin and the state. Alligator populations gradually decline inland because habitats are seasonally flooded and prey density is reduced. American alligators are cold-blooded animals, but generally are active year round in South Carolina. Breeding season for the American alligator varies throughout its range because the onset coincides with warmer weather. Nest site selection, construction, maintenance, and protection are important activities in the life of a female alligator. In South Carolina, the majority of nest construction and egg laying takes place during the month of June. Nests are located on high ground, 1 to 5 meters (3 to18 ft) from the waters edge, and consist of a large mound of mud and crushed vegetation.

In the ACE Basin, most alligator nests are found in managed impoundments and, to a lesser extent, in remnant impoundments and unaltered marshes. Most nests within impoundments are located on remnant dikes. Nest material is from surrounding vegetation, which is typically giant cordgrass (Spartina cynosuroides) and nests are about 1.5-1.8 m (5-6 feet) in diameter and average 0.5 m (20 in) in height. Once the mound is complete, the female digs a conical chamber in the center of the mound and deposits 40-45 eggs into the chamber. Several layers of mud and vegetation are then added and compacted atop the egg chamber. Inside it, the eggs are kept at a constant temperature as a result of heat produced by decomposition of the nesting material. Sex of alligators is determined by nest temperatures during the middle third of embryo development. Females are produced at temperatures less than 31.5°C; mixed sex ratios occur at 32°C, and males only are produced when temperatures are between 32.5 and 33°C.

Decreasing numbers of males are produced as temperatures approach 35°C, a temperature beyond which only females are produced. Incubation periods average between 63 and 65 days, but can be as long as 77 days. Hatching success averages approximately 70% in South Carolina. Hatchling alligators average about 24 cm (10 in) in total length and weigh 45-55 g (1.5-2.0 ounces). After hatching, juvenile alligators remain together in a group called a pod or creche, which may remain together for up to three years. Both sexes grow to about 122 cm (4 ft) by age 5. After this age, female growth begins to slow, presumably channeling energy towards reproduction, while males continue to grow fairly rapidly. By age 25, males on average measure 316 cm (10 ft 4 in) and females average 253 cm (8 ft 3 in). Males can reach lengths greater than 394 cm (13 ft) while females rarely exceed 290 cm (9 ft 6 in).

Males and females become sexually active when approximately 2.1-2.7 meters (7-9 ft) in length. Alligator food habits vary by size class, with prey size increasing as alligators get larger. Hatchlings initially depend upon a yolk reserve but will begin feeding almost immediately on invertebrates such as insects, crustaceans, and snails and on small fish. As they grow, larger foods such as snakes, larger insects and frogs become common. Adults feed on aquatic organisms and animals that come to the waters edge to drink. In estuarine habits, the most common adult food item is blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus). Alligators are also known to feed on dead animals or carrion. Once alligators reach adulthood, they are top-level carnivores and have no natural predators. Raccoons (Procyon lotor), wading birds, and deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are prey items of the largest animals. Species Significance In South Carolina, the harvest of American alligators for both food and leather remained unregulated until the 1950s.

In 1955, alligators benefited from a law, originally intended to protect deer, that banned night shooting. By the early 1960s, in an effort to reduce poaching, alligator trappers were required by law to possess a license and tags. However, numbers of American alligators in South Carolina continued to decline, resulting in the closure of the season in 1964. Poaching continued even after inclusion of the species in the Endangered Species Protection Act of 1966 and the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969. Finally, in 1970, American alligators were included under the Lacey Act of 1900, which prohibited the transport of illegally collected mammals and birds across state boundaries. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, alligators continued to be protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and were listed as endangered in coastal areas of South Carolina and threatened elsewhere in the state. In 1987, the U. S.

Fish and Wildlife Service changed its status to one of "threatened upon similarity of appearance." This was necessary because, even though the species was no longer endangered at that time, such a status would indirectly provide protection to the American crocodile. In 1988, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources implemented a Nuisance Alligator Program. This program was established in an effort to alleviate increasing human-alligator encounters due to rapid urban development in coastal areas. After 31 years of closure, the alligator hunting season in South Carolina was re-opened in 1995. A permit, issued by the S. C. Department of Natural Resources and valid for one year, is required for the marketing and possession of any alligator product. (See related sections: Hunting and Endangered Species .) References Bara, M. O. 1976. American alligator investigations. Final Study Report. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Columbia, S.C. Conant, R. 1975. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians of eastern and central North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA. Elsey, R. 1998. Personal communication.

Louisiana Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries, Rockefeller Refuge, Grand Chenier, LA. Ferguson, M.J.W. and T. Joanen. 1983. Temperature dependent sex determination in Alligator mississippiensis. Journal Zoological Society of London 200:143-177. Ferguson, M.J.W and T. Joanen. 1982. Temperature of egg incubation determines sex in (Alligator mississippiensis). Nature 296:850-853. Grenard, S. 1991. Handbook of Alligators and Crocodiles. Krieger Publishing Co., Malabar, Florida. Lang, J. W. and H. V. Andrews. 1994 Temperature-dependent sex determination in crocodilians. Journal of Experimental Zoology 270:28-44. Murphy, T. M. and J. W. Coker. 1984. American alligator population studies in South Carolina. Study Completion Report. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Columbia, S.C. Murphy, S. H. and G. Barnette (eds). not dated.

South Carolinas endangered species portfolio - American Alligator. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Diversity Section, Columbia, SC. Rhodes, W. E. and J. W. Lang. 1995. Sex ratios of naturally-incubated alligator hatchlings: field techniques and initial results. Proceeding of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 49:640-646. Rhodes, W. 1996. South Carolina Alligator Program 1996 Annual Report. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Wildlife Management Section. Strange, T.H. 1987. Goals and objectives of water level manipulations in impounded wetlands in South Carolina. pgs 130-137. In: W.R. Whitman and W.H. Meridith, eds. Waterfowl and wetlands symposium: proceedings of a symposium on waterfowl and wetlands management in the coastal zone of the Atlantic Flyway. Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Dover, DE. Wilkinson, P. M. 1983.

Nesting ecology of the American alligator in coastal South Carolina. Study Completion Report. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Columbia, S.C. Wilkinson, P. M. and W. E. Rhodes. 1992. Nesting habitat of American alligators in coastal South Carolina. Proceeding of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 46:260-265. Wilkinson, P. M. and W. E. Rhodes. 1997. Growth rates of American alligators in coastal South Carolina. Journal of Wildlife Management 61:397-402. Diamondback Terrapin Malaclemys terrapin Description Diamondback terrapins belong to a family containing more genera and species than any other family of living turtles, the Emydidae. The diamondback terrapin is the only species included in the genus Malaclemys, but several subspecies are recognized even though experts have not come to an agreement on the exact number. The terrapins shell, or carapace , ranges in color from light brown to gray to black with a honey-yellow or greenish underside.

The sections of the carapace, called scutes, are large and have concentric growth rings. In addition, there is often a keel that runs the length of the carapace and varies in height. The turtles skin is spotted, and its feet are distinctly webbed. This species shows marked sexual dimorphism; that is, males and females differ in appearance. In the case of terrapins, it is mainly a size difference, with females being considerably larger than males. Also, male terrapins have narrower heads and thicker, longer tails. Habitat and Biology Turtles found in South Carolina belong to the subspecies Malaclemys terrapin centrata, the Carolina diamondback. This subspecies ranges from Cape Hatteras to northeastern Florida, whereas the distribution of the species is from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Corpus Christi Bay, Texas. Diamondback terrapins inhabit brackish waters almost exclusively; they are the only turtle in North America known to do so. Along the Atlantic coast, they are commonly found in salt marshes, tidal flats, impoundments , and sounds behind barrier islands. In winter months, diamondback terrapins hibernate in muddy burrows along tidal creeks and ponds.

Subtidal mud flats and shallow tidal creeks have been recognized as primary feeding grounds for this species. Favorite food items include a variety of crustaceans, mollusks , and other invertebrate fauna of coastal habitats. Courtship and mating take place in the water during early daylight hours in April and May. Females leave the water only during the nesting season, which varies latitudinally. Clutch size varies from 4 to 18 pinkish-white eggs and also changes with latitude. Females in southern regions tend to produce larger and fewer eggs than females in the North. Egg production does not peak until a female is 25 years of age. Eggs incubate in the nest, which is built in sandy substrates above the high tide mark, for 60-120 days depending on temperature. One of the major sources of mortality for this species is predation of eggs and hatchlings. Predators include raccoons, foxes, crows, and sea gulls. In addition, rootlets of the grass Ammophila brevilingulata invade nests and may cause egg mortality in some areas.

Species Significance In the past, diamondback terrapins were popular food for humans, and turtle populations suffered large losses from the turn of the century until the mid to late 1920s. Terrapins are no longer considered a delicacy. Although still a legally harvestable species, no commercial permits have been issued. The lack of a commercial harvest has allowed populations in most areas to recover fully . Current causes of adult mortality include entrapment, and subsequent drowning, in crab pots; and fatal encounters with motorized vehicles (cars, boats). Alteration of estuarine habitat poses the most severe threat to this species. References Carson, J. 1998. Personal communication. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division, Charleston, SC. Martof, B. S., Palmer, W. M., Bailey, J. R., Harrison III, J. R. 1980. Amphibians and reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. Palmer, W. M., Cordes, C. L. 1988. Habitat suitability index models: diamondback terrapin (nesting)--Atlantic coast.

Biological Report 82(10.151). U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC. Zimmerman, T. D. 1992. Latitudinal reproductive variation of the salt marsh turtle, the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin). Unpublished Masters Thesis. University of Charleston, Charleston, SC. Sound , Description The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest of its species in the world and the most venomous snake in North America. It has a distinct coloration pattern consisting of dark diamond-shaped dorsal blotches defined by a border of yellowish scales. A dark bar bordered by two yellowish white stripes on either side extends back at an angle from the snakes mouth to its eye. The characteristic "rattle" comes from a series of loosely attached segments at the end of the tail. The buzzing noise is created when the snake rapidly vibrates its tail Habitat and Biology The eastern diamondback rattlesnake inhabits coastal lowlands from southeast North Carolina to the Florida Keys. It is also found as far west as the eastern portion of Louisiana. Its preferred habitat is the longleaf pine ecosystem, which is currently endangered.

Longleaf pine forests are rapidly being converted to loblolly pine plantations and urban areas, thus threatening the existence of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake. Removal of tree stumps is a particular threat to the snakes, which use the stumps as refugia. This species of rattler is holothermal; that is, it is ready to capture prey during all times of day. It is most active during the day and at dusk, feeding primarily on rabbits and rats and occasionally on mice, squirrels, and birds. Its dietary preference makes this species important in controlling populations of rodents which, if too high, can harm other species such as ground nesting birds. The breeding season for this species extends from August to September. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is a viviparous snake; that is, a female gives birth to live young. This occurs in the fall, every two to three years, with average brood size ranging from 6 to 21. After the breeding season is over, rattlers resume foraging for prey and return to over-wintering locations. The coldest months of the year are spent in underground shelters.

Species Significance According to a recent proposal by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the eastern diamondback rattlesnake has been ignored in conservation efforts until recently. This situation likely results from the to "the sociological problems inherent in any conservation effort directed at a venomous species that threatens human life." In South Carolina, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake is listed as a Species of Concern, and its ecology is being studied by the Wildlife Diversity Section of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Collection, sale, and purchase of this species is allowed in South Carolina without restrictions, and its status as a Species of Concern does not provide any legal protection. References Behler, J. L., King, F. W. 1985. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. New York, New York. Bennett, S. H. 1995. Ecology and status of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) in South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Columbia, SC. Martof, B. S., Palmer, W.

M., Bailey, J. R., Harrison III, J. R. 1980. Amphibians and reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta caretta Description Loggerheads are one of seven species of marine turtles. Adult loggerheads have a reddish-brown shell, or carapace , with medium-yellow underside ( plastron ). The arrangement and number of scutes (the large scales or plates on the turtles shell and head) are used to identify each species of turtle. This species is third in size among marine turtles, with the leatherback and green turtles being the largest and second largest, respectively. Adult loggerheads average 113 kg (250 lbs) in weight. Hatchlings average 45 mm (1.7 in) in shell length, weigh about 20 g (0.6 oz), and are dull brown in color. Habitat and Biology Loggerhead sea turtles are found throughout the worlds oceans. In the western Atlantic, they are distributed from Newfoundland to Argentina.

Pelagic immature individuals (dinner-plate size) are found in the eastern Atlantic near the Azores and Madeira. During summer months, loggerheads concentrate in lower latitudes to lay eggs. In the western Atlantic, four subpopulations of loggerhead turtles have been established based on nesting areas: the Northern Nesting Subpopulation, from North Carolina to northeast Florida; the South Florida Nesting Subpopulation from 29°N on the east coast to Sarasota on the west coast; the Florida Panhandle Nesting Subpopulation found at Eglin Air Force Base and the beaches near Panama City; and the Yucatan Nesting Subpopulation on the eastern coast of Yucatan, Mexico. Primary nesting sites in South Carolina are beaches between North Inlet and Price Inlet, with moderate nesting activity also occurring on beaches between Kiawah Island and Hilton Head Island. In the ACE Basin, loggerhead nesting activity occurs on beaches bordering St. Helena Sound, including Edisto Beach, Otter Island and Hunting Island. Loggerheads mate in coastal waters during the spring. Females then come ashore at night from May to August, to the same stretch of coastline where they hatched, to lay their eggs on sandy dunes.

Upon reaching a suitable nest site, the female digs a flask-shaped cavity with her hind flippers and deposits an average of 115 round, leathery eggs. She then fills the cavity with sand, crawls over it, and obscures any tracks by using her front flippers to throw sand on the spot. The eggs incubate for approximately 2 months, and hatchlings usually emerge at night between 10 pm and 2 am. Then, as a group, they begin their crawl towards the ocean, where they mature in approximately 20-25 years. Species Significance The loggerhead sea turtle has been on the United States and South Carolina List of Endangered and Threatened Species since July 28, 1978. It is listed as a threatened species throughout its range and is still under intense pressure from local exploitation in many parts of the world. According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the numbers of nesting females in South Carolina beaches has declined at an alarming rate since 1980. This decline is attributed primarily to incidental catch in shrimp trawl nets. Federal law now requires the use of Turtle Excluder Devices, or TEDs, in shrimp trawls.

Before the implementation of these devices, it is estimated that between 5,000 and 50,000 turtles died annually as a result of drowning in shrimp trawl nets. Other threats to the species include beach armoring (construction of groins, jetties, and similar structures to protect beachfront property from erosion) and nourishment, bright beachfront lighting, recreational beach equipment, non-native beach vegetation, nest depredation by raccoons and other predators, poaching, dredging, pollution, and commercial fishing gear. In South Carolina, raccoons are kept at bay from certain areas through volunteer trapping programs. In the ACE Basin, nesting beaches on Edisto and Hunting Islands are accessible enough to allow for trapping of raccoons. However, loggerhead nesting beaches on Otter Island are too remote to implement such programs. Of the four existing subpopulations in the western Atlantic, the South Florida Nesting Subpopulation is the largest one, averaging 64,000 nests per year in 1989-1995. It is the second largest loggerhead nesting assemblage in the world.

Loggerheads that nest on beaches along the South Carolina coast belong to the Northern Nesting Subpopulation, which averaged 6,200 nests per year in 1989-1995. References Loggerhead/Green Turtle Recovery Team. 1991. Recovery Plan for U.S. Population of Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta). National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Silver Spring, MD. Murphy, S. H. and G. Barnette (eds). South Carolinas Endangered Species Portfolio - Loggerhead Sea Turtle. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Diversity Section, Columbia, SC. National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1995. Status Reviews for Sea Turtles Listed Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Silver Spring, MD. National Research Council. 1990. Decline of the sea turtle: Cause and prevention. National Academy Press. Washington, DC. 259 pp. Turtle Expert Working Group. 1998.

Assessment of the Kemp's Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) and loggerhead sea turtle population (Caretta caretta) in the Western North Atlantic. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFC-409. National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Miami, FL. Southeastern Five-lined Skink Eumeces inexpectatus Description Southeastern five-lined skinks belong to the family Scincidae, one of the two largest families of lizards. As their name suggests, southeastern five-lined skinks have five characteristic narrow stripes along their bodies that become lighter with age. The middle stripe tends to be narrower than the others, and the dark areas between stripes are black in young skinks but become brown with age. A similar species, the five-lined skink (Eumeces fasciatus), is smaller than the southeastern five-lined skink and has broader stripes. However, it is difficult to discriminate between these two species on the basis of physical appearance. Young southeastern five-lined skinks have a bright blue or purplish tail, especially towards the tip. Also, stripes become a bright reddish orange towards the head.

Juvenile coloration may persist into adulthood, giving the head of the animal an altogether orange-brown appearance. Habitat and Biology Southeastern five-lined skinks are common inhabitants of wooded areas of the southeastern United States They are commonly found in small islands off the southeastern coast even in the absence of fresh water and vegetation. Most species of skinks are small and are active during the day. Similar to other lizard species, skinks exhibit autotomy; that is, they purposely break their tails when confronted with danger. This break occurs at specialized vertebrae that are split by contractions of the surrounding muscles. Excessive bleeding is prevented by sphincter muscles in the tail stump that constrict the caudal artery. It is thought that the purpose of this behavior is to confuse predators. The wriggling tail draws the predators attention away from the lizard, which makes a quick escape. The lost tail is then slowly regenerated. However, the new tail differs from the original in that it has a cartilaginous rod for support instead of vertebrae, its scales are of different size and shape, and its musculature and color are different.

Southeastern five-lined skinks feed mainly on insects, preferring larger prey items such as grasshoppers. They are oviparous, and clutch size is 6 to 12 eggs, depending on the size of the female. There is indication of a latitudinal trend, with diminishing clutch sizes at higher latitudes. Female skinks brood their eggs and protect them from predators, including other skinks. Eggs are laid during the summer, and hatchlings emerge one month after being laid. References Conant, R. 1975. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians of eastern and central North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA. Martof, B. S., Palmer, W. M., Bailey, J. R., Harrison III, J. R. 1980. Amphibians and reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. Smith, H. 1946. Handbook of Lizards. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.

American Alligator | State Symbols USA State Symbols USA American Alligator; photo by User:Postdlf on Wikipedia (use permitted with attribution / share alike: CC BY-SA 3.0 ). American Alligator Mississippi designated the American Alligator as the official state reptile in 2005. The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is native to the Southeastern United States. Alligator comes from the Spanish "el lagarto" (the lizard). Alligators construct burrows, or "alligator holes" for shelter and hibernation. They are also known to find shelter in swimming pools during the dry months. Alligators are an important part of their ecosystem - they control the population of prey species, create peat through their nesting activities, and benefit several other species with 'alligator holes' and nests (including the Florida Red-bellied turtle which incubates its own eggs there). After surviving nearly unchanged since the time of the dinosaurs, and having virtually no natural predators as adults today, alligators were headed for extinction only 20 years ago due to intense hunting by humans. Protecting the species and alligator habitats has allowed the status to be changed from endangered to threatened.

A typical male reaches 13-14 feet in length and can weigh over 600 pounds (there are unconfirmed reports of alligators over 16 feet). Immature alligators have yellow cross-bands on a black background for camouflage. Adults can be long and thin or short and stocky. Mississippi Critter Babies | Alligators Critter Babies Blog Alligators Be careful with this wild baby! While he’s very cute, he has a strong jaw and a sharp set of teeth! Alligators are reptiles which can been found in many areas across the world including the China Republic and United States of America. America is mostly where they are found; specifically in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and some of the coastal areas of Carolina. What makes a baby crocodile different than a baby alligator? The major difference between them is their jaw structure. Baby alligators can also be considered hatchlings as they are hatched from eggs. These little alligators are carefully protected by their Moms, just like you! Baby alligators are less aggressive but if they receive any harm from other animals or human beings then they bite with their little but very sharp teeth.

Baby alligators usually have about sixty to eighty teeth at a time to eat their favorite type of snails, worms, birds, fish and insects. Baby alligators cannot move their tongue so it can be proved dangerous for them to eat turtles,snakes or any other type of preyed animals which are big in size and normally eaten by their elders. Baby alligators have very poor metabolism as they rest most of the time. This means they don’t have a lot of energy like you and I do! Baby alligators are so weak that they have to be protected by their mothers for about a year. Alligators are considered babies until their height has reached six feet. It takes a period of two years to reach up to at least six feet! That’s a lot of growing for them to do! When baby alligators are born they use their special eye tooth to break the egg. This eye tooth is generally found on the tip of the nose and vanishes after a few weeks of birth.

Baby alligators have a unique sound of some specific pitch that is used by them only when they face a problem and want to call their mother alligators for help.They use their powerful muscles to open their mouth and to produce a specific sound to call for help whenever they’re scared! Little alligators may be cute but they don’t make good pets as they can bite with their sharp conical teeth. When light is thrown on the eyes of baby alligators their eyes shine and looks green in color. Do you have green eyes? • There are two species of alligator, the American Alligator and the Chinese Alligator • Males can be up to 20 feet long while females are about 8 feet long • American Alligators can live to be up to 50 years old in the wild! • Alligators are mostly solitary creatures and prefer to live alone • Females build nests to lay and protect their eggs • Alligators can be found in fresh water • The Chinese Alligator is critically endangered • The alligator is the official state reptile of Florida • The name alligator comes from a Spanish word “el lagarto” meaning lizard • You can tell an alligator from a crocodile by its teeth.

• They weigh around 1,000 pounds! Animal Type Alligator (derived from the Spanish el lagarto - the lizard) mississippiensis (belonging to the Mississippi River) FAST FACTS DESCRIPTION: The American alligator has a large lizard-like body with four short legs and a long muscular tail. A gator's hide is rough and scaled. Young alligators are black with bright yellow blotches and stripes. Adults are a uniform dark color. Alligators and crocodiles are similar in appearance, but exhibit a number of differences. Alligators are dark colored with a broad, rounded snout and are usually found in fresh water. Crocodiles are grayish-green and prefer coastal, brackish, and salt-water habitats. They have a narrow, tapered, triangular snout. Also, the fourth tooth on either side of the lower jaw of an alligator fits into an internal socket in the upper jaw so that these teeth are hidden when the mouth is closed. In a crocodile, the fourth tooth is always exposed.

SIZE: The largest recorded specimen is attributed to a Louisiana specimen measured at 576 cm (19 ft 2 in) - though some sources cite the measurement as 6 m (19.8 ft). It should be noted, however, that this figure is unsubstantiated and, as such, held in question. MALE Adult males typically reach lengths of 4-4.5 m (13.1-14.8 ft.) FEMALE Females are smaller, growing to 3 m (9.8 ft.) WEIGHT: MALE Adult males weigh between 180-228 kg (400-500 lb.); the largest males may attain weights in excess of 454 kg (1000 lbs.) DIET: Feeds on fishes, turtles, mammals, snakes, birds, and even other alligators (under certain conditions); also will eat carrion. INCUBATION: 60-65 days; The temperature of the nest determines the sex of the young. If the nest is below 30 degrees Celsius (86°F) most hatchlings are female.

If the nest is above 34 degrees Celsius (93°F) most hatchlings are male. Nest temperatures between 30-34 degrees Celsius will produce similar numbers of both sexes. CLUTCH SIZE Appendix II USFWS Threatened (primarily due to the similarity in appearance to the endangered American crocodile); alligators were previously classified as endangered; they are one of the few animals to be downgraded from endangered to threatened (the improvement in their numbers was due to intensive conservation efforts) FUN FACTS 1. The name alligator was derived from the Spanish words el lagarto, meaning "the lizard," which is what Spanish explorers called these creatures. The American alligator is one of just two species of true alligators - the other is the Chinese alligator. 2. Alligators are one animal that has changed very little since the prehistoric days. When dinosaurs became extinct, these modern day contemporaries continued to prosper. 3. The alligator became the official state reptile of Florida in 1987. It is also the mascot of University of Florida at Gainesville. 4. Communicating territory in the water is often difficult, but many crocodilians are quite adept at it.

Most species use a headslap or jawclap above or beneath the water. A crocodilian performs a headslap by raising its head and slamming it against the surface of the water. Jawclaps are when the reptile opens its jaw in a biting motion at the surface of the water, then quickly closes it. The result is a loud pop and splash. 5. Unlike other reptiles, female alligators will protect young for up to two years after hatching. The first two years are the most critical in the life of an alligator. Eighty percent or more may fall victim to wading birds, raccoons, bobcats, otters, snakes, large bass and even larger alligators. Once an alligator exceeds four feet, it is relatively safe from predators, but may still be vulnerable to cannibalism. 6. There are approximately 80 teeth in their mouth at one time. When the teeth wear down they are replaced. Consequently, an alligator can go through 2,000-3,000 teeth in a lifetime. 7. There are two true species of alligators: American and Chinese.

The Chinese gator is smaller than its American cousin - only growing to 2 meters (7 ft.) in length. There are also fewer than 1,000 Chinese alligators left in China's lower Yangtze River Valley. 8. Alligators are hunted for their meat and skin. As early as the 1800s, alligator skins were sold in the Miami area for $7 each. ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION Alligators construct "gator holes" with their large sweeping tails that retain water during periods of drought. These holes provide water and foraging space for many other species such as wading birds. In turn alligators may forage on the species attracted to the "hole". Other species, like the red-bellied slider, use alligator nests for their own egg deposition. Paths used by alligators in sawgrass widen to form creeks, which in turn help to flood marshes during rainy seasons. Because of legal protection, alligators are no longer endangered. They have made a remarkable comeback but are still classified as threatened due to similarity of appearance to crocodiles. This helps insure its continued protection and that of the endangered American crocodile.

Humans can learn to live near alligators by taking wise precautions such as: not feeding them, harassing them, or approaching a nest or group of baby gators. Most alligator attacks are results of a gator that has lost its fear of man because it has been hand fed. BIBLIOGRAPHY Brook Van Meter, Victoria. Florida's Alligators and Crocodiles. Miami: Florida Power and Light Co., 1987. Conant, Roger and Joseph T. Collins. Reptiles and Amphibians: Eastern and Central North America. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Co.1991. Haliday, T. and K. Adler, eds. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 1987. Levy, Charles. Endangered Species: Crocodiles and Alligators. New Jersey: Chartwell Books, 1991. Ross, C., ed. Crocodiles and Alligators. New York: Facts on File, Inc. 1989. Steel, Rodney. Crocodiles. Great Britain: Christopher Helm Ltd., 1989.

flmnh.ufl.edu/cnhc/cbd.html In the Croc Tank - FlyingClassroom.com In the Croc Tank by Barrington Irving October 29, 2014 The largest live crocodile ever measured was 20.3 feet long and found right here in Australia’s Northern Territory. After decades of merciless hunting, Australia’s crocodile population dropped to 3,000 in the 1970s. Thanks to a hunting ban, populations have since rebounded. Today, 140,000 saltwater crocs are estimated to live in Australia, with 80,000 in the Northern Territory alone. A big one patrols the dam up the road from where we were studying cane toads (left). We had no desire to cross his path. Instead, we stopped by Crocosaurus Cove in downtown Darwin to meet “Chopper”—a 1,750-pound adult male—and learn more about these amazing creatures. What is a Crocodile Exactly? The word crocodile comes from the Greek word krokodeilos—meaning “pebble worm.” Alligator, on the other hand, comes from the Spanish word for lizard: el lagarto.

Neither name is very accurate. Crocodiles are reptiles, but they’re not lizards. And although they’re not technically dinosaurs, the two share a common ancestor: birds. Like birds, female crocs lay eggs. And after guarding their nests for 2-3 months, female crocs will help their babies hatch. They’ve even been seen feeding pieces of meat to their hatchlings—just like mama birds! Crocs are highly-social animals. They live in groups and establish territories. Usually they can settle territorial disputes through growls and groans, but if all else fails, violent fights can break out. The staff at Crocosaurus Cove believe Chopper lost his two front feet (below) in territorial battles with younger crocs in the wild. At 80 years old, he was getting too old to fight them off. All photos by Oliver Uberti Crocs are very intelligent, too. They have the most advanced brain of all reptiles. Being smart means they can learn routines like seasonal migrations and when and where animals come to the river to drink. This allows them to predict the best time and place to catch a meal. Stealth Mode Crocs are stealth hunters.

Rather than waste energy chasing prey, crocs will wait for food to come to them and then STRIKE like an uncoiled spring. Did you know crocs can literally jump out of the water? They use their powerful tails to swim upward at speed and then launch their bodies out to nab birds flying across the water’s surface. We hear stories of crocs taking down zebra, cattle, and kangaroos, but those big animals are rare feasts. More commonly, their diet consists of smaller prey like fish, crabs, and snails. Juveniles dine off a kids’ menu of insects, shrimp, frogs, and fish. But no cane toads! Because large crocodiles have such a massive bite—like a 3.5 ton truck falling on your foot—their teeth don’t need to be sharp to punch through skin and bone. Each tooth is hollow at the base, so when the old one breaks off, there’s a new one to replace it immediately. To hunt in murky water, crocs have excellent hearing and an excellent sense of smell. But they also have a sixth sense. Each scale of a saltwater crocodile’s skin has tiny, black dots on it.

These “dermal pressure receptors” detect minute pressure changes in the water, such that the croc can tell if a fish is swimming past even if it can’t see it. Croc Power! Life underwater means going without oxygen. To survive, crocs evolved with special superpowers. When they dive, their ear flaps and nostrils seal off; a third eyelid covers the eye; and the valve at the back of the tongue closes to keep water out of the throat. A croc’s four-chambered heart—the most advanced in the animal kingdom—contains two valves to redirect blood to the brain and other essential organs. If a crocodile wants to stay underwater for an extended period, it can slow its heart rate to less than 5 beats per minute and then switch back instantly to STRIKE! Even crocodile blood is super-powered. All vertebrates, including humans, have a special protein in their red blood cells called “hemoglobin” that transports oxygen from our lungs to the rest of our body. Crocodile hemoglobin is like a Boeing 747 Dreamlifter; it can carry more oxygen than any other animal.

In fact, researchers have been able to use this oxygen-rich croc blood to help human beings survive dangerous and complicated heart transplants. See, humans and crocs can live together after all!

Question: Which reptile's name comes from the Spanish ' el lagarto ' , meaning ' the lizard ' ?
Answer: ALLIGATOR