Alligator - RD (sorry please ignore the previous page with my initials - anyone is free to use that topic)

Alligator

Where do they live?

Alligators are normally found from southeast Oklahoma and east Texas to North Carolina and Florida. They prefer fresh water lakes and slow-moving rivers and their associated wetlands, but they also can be found in brackish water habitats.

Why is thermoregulation necessary for them?

Alligators are ectotherms thus they cannot fully control their temperature. These organisms rely on environmental heat sources which allow them to function at reasonably efficient metabolic rates.

How do they carry out thermoregulation?

In order to increase their core temperatures, alligators bask in the sun, or sit on top of rocks which absorb heat quite quickly. Conversely, in order to cool down, they can sit in a shaded area, or stay in water, or stay still with their mouths open. The body heat therefore is lost through the soft, moist skin of the mouth and tongue.

Alligators are most active when temperatures are between 28° to 33° C. They stop feeding when temperature drops below approximately 21° C and they become dormant below 13° C. Alligators are dormant throughout much of the winter season. During this time, they can be found in burrows that they construct adjacent to an alligator hole or open water. These burrows are commonly referred to as ‘gator holes’ and created when alligators dig with their snouts and tails. These dens are holes or tunnels up to 20 feet deep made in mud banks or soil, and they provide shelter and a place for hibernation in colder weather. In icy conditions, some alligators can be found suspended in ice with their nostrils above the water in order to allow ventilation.