A young American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) rides on the back of its mother in Brazos Bend State Park, Texas, USA

by Rick Dunlap

Alligator at night By: Peter B. Kaplan From: Natural History Magazine 1977

More gators :D

Also. In case you were unaware:

•Baby gators make laser noises

•Mom gators carry their babies in their mouth sometimes.

See:

Piebald American alligators(Alligator mississippiensis) [x]

“The Endangered Species Act (ESA) has been successful in preventing the extinction of hundreds of wildlife species and in promoting the recovery of thousands more since its inception in 1973. Some of the species that have been successfully recovered and removed from the list of threatened and endangered species include American alligators, bald eagles, peregrine falcons and humpback whales.

According to the Center of Biological Diversity, a leading U.S.-based non-profit with the simple mission of “saving life on Earth,” the ESA has protected more than 1,600 species in the U.S., preventing the extinction of 99 percent of the species listed under it.

Without the ESA, at least 227 species would likely have gone extinct by now since the law’s passage in 1973. In addition, 110 species have seen tremendous recovery since being protected by the act.

The ESA also supports conservation outside the U.S., as the federal government uses the law to enforce the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), a global agreement between nations to regulate trade on species under threat. Examples of the ESA’s reach beyond U.S. borders is in helping save giant pandas as well as several species of tiger...

Overall, the ESA has played a crucial role in the conservation of threatened and endangered species in the U.S., and it continues to be a key tool for protecting and recovering these species. This groundbreaking piece of legislation, now in its 50th year, has done incredible things for American wildlife. It has protected species of plants and animals and brought them back to sustainable population numbers. However, [those] success stories don’t make the act perfect. There is still work to be done to improve the ESA’s effectiveness and ensure that it can preserve the species that we all love and know today.” -via The Environmental Magazine, headline via a reprint from Good News Network. 1/12/23

American alligator. These are Endangered; written by Charles Cadieux and illustrated by Bob Hines. 1981.

Internet Archive

March Tiny Reptile and Mini Amphibian pin previews: American Alligator and Frosted Flatwoods Salamander! 🐊

They're available as pins and stickers until the end of February through my Patreon and will be sent out in March!

Just a bump on a log.. 🐊

A group of Mississippi hunters reeled in an 800-pound alligator early Saturday. Tanner White, far left, Don Woods, Will Thomas and Joey Clark caught an alligator that was 14 feet 3 inches long, which is a new state record. (link)

An American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) in Birmingham Zoo, Alabama, USA

by Dystopos

American alligator By: Brian Parker From: Natural History Magazine 1984

Animal of the Day!

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

(Photo from the Nature Conservancy)

Conservation Status- Least Concern

Habitat- Southern United States

Size (Weight/Length)- 450 kg; 3 m

Diet- Large mammals; Fish; Birds; Reptiles

Cool Facts- Of the two alligator species alive today, the American alligator is by far the largest. American alligators like to be solitary but the remaining pockets of swamp and marshland have forced them into tighter areas, often resulting in large groups. Like almost all crocodilians, these massive reptiles are ambush predators. They hunt almost anything that moves and are capable of biting through a turtle shell. However, their teeth are not made for chewing. Instead, the American alligator often swallows their prey in large chunks and relies on their gizzard to break down food into smaller bits. Female alligators are extremely protective of their young, building a nest for them and watching over them for up to two years. In the early 1900s, American alligators were almost hunted to extinction for their skin being used in fashion. Through national parks and protections, these alligators have successfully been removed from the Endangered Species List and now live in the millions.

Rating- 13/10 (Hecking chonker.)

“An Amazing World Right Under Your Nose”: Photographer Captures Beautiful Nature Pictures With A Macro Lens

American Alligator

By Mark Andrew Thomas

Eastern amberwing dragonfly catching a ride on an American alligator

For this commission I was asked to design an american alligator / aquatic dragon hybrid, with inspirations from Saphira (movie form from Eragon) and Smaug. This was a super fun design to help bring to life!