This is an American alligator. It is also called a gator, and its scientific name is Alligator mississippiensis. They are found in Florida and all the rest of the Gulf coast states. When Spanish explorers first came to Florida, they called this animal “The lizard.” In Spanish, this is “el lagarto,” and this turned into the word alligator as time passed.
The one in the picture above lives at Gatorland in Orlando, Florida. I saw this alligator when I was 2 years old. A few weeks ago, I saw more alligators at SeaWorld. The picture below is of baby alligators. I think baby alligators are cute. What do you think?
Large adult American alligators weigh about 800 pounds and are about 13 feet long. They eat fish, birds, turtles, snakes, mammals, and amphibians. They have very powerful jaws. Most alligators have stones in their stomach. Alligators swallow their food whole, because they can bite, but not chew their food. So the stones grind up their food while it is in their stomachs. The stones also help the alligator sink in the water while it is swimming.
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I remember hearing a story about a woman in Florida who was carrying her groceries into her house. When she came back out, there was an alligator in her trunk!
Lots of things are cute when they’re babies. It’s when they grow up they’re not so cute. I’m not sure alligator babies qualify as cute, though. You were a very cute baby, Raymie, and I think you’ll still be cute when you grow up.
I didn’t know alligators had rocks in their stomachs! Wow! Dont birds and fish do the same thing?
On Wikipedia, I learned that crocodiles, alligators, plant-eating birds, seals, and sea lions all have stomach stones.
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