Design

The American alligator has vertical pupils in its eyes. It is able to see well in the low light of night. The alligator has been known to eat just about anything found in its watery habitat, from paper trash to fish hooks and aluminum cans. The nostrils of an alligator are slightly elevated on its snout, allowing it to breathe while remaining completely submerged.

Features

• The alligator is smaller, darker, and has a more rounded snout than the crocodile.
• It also prefers freshwater to the saltwater that crocodiles enjoy.

Fun Facts

• An alligator’s lower jaw is very weak in comparison to its upper jaw. That is how a circus performer can stick his head inside an alligator’s mouth without fear of getting it bitten off.
• The name “alligator” comes from the Spanish word “el lagarto,” meaning “lizard.”
• Alligators living in water containing a lot of algae have a greenish hue to their hides.

Created Kind Members

Crocodile, caiman