The American alligator is one of the fiercest animals around. It’s one of the world’s top apex predators. This means they reign supreme in the food chain. There are few animals that can prey on alligators and crocodiles.
The alligator might be one of the most dangerous predators on the planet. But they’re typically not aggressive most of the time. There are only three reasons this magnificent reptile will get violent. One is when a male gator is being challenged by another adult male. A nesting alligator will also become aggressive. It’s not surprising though as any mother will do anything to protect their young.
Alligators are also more aggressive and dangerous during mating season. It’s always a good idea to put a lot of space between you and an alligator. But doing this during their mating season can save your life.
The Mating Season Starts!
Millions of people love spring. The cold of winter is dissipating and the weather begins to get warmer. It’s not only the temperatures that are going up. Alligators and other cold-blooded reptiles are also beginning to warm up. For gators, the warm weather also means the search for mates is beginning.
Alligators begin their complex courtship rituals in April. But when do alligators mate? These reptiles go through a long courtship ritual. The actual mating often happens from May to June.
The mating period isn’t set in stone though. It could be earlier in the springtime. There have been years when the mating season almost happened during summer. The climate affects the gator’s biological imperative to mate. A cooler spring can delay the mating season.
The Complex Mating Rituals of the American Gator
The American alligator is a huge beast. An adult male gator reaches around 11. 2 feet. They can also weigh as much as 1,000 pounds. The average female alligator is smaller but will still grow an impressive 8.2 feet.
It’s hard to imagine that these lumbering animals have an elaborate courtship ritual. This period starts once when the temperature rises. You can tell alligators are courting. It’s when you start hearing loud and low bellows across the swamp and marshes. The males do this as a way to make their presence known.
Courting male alligators also do a “water dance.” This is when they use their jaws to slap the water. They also lift their tails. This action is a way to garner the attention of the ladies. It also causes droplets to skitter down their bodies due to infrasonic vibrations. Male alligators also have another weapon in their arsenal. Their musk glands release an odor to attract broody females.
Let the Mating Begin
Once a male alligator finds a suitable female, they’ll begin the direct courtship. The pair will start rubbing and pressing their backs and snouts against each other. Researchers believe this behavior is crucial. They’ve even observed the gators pressing potential mates down into the water. They’ll even straddle the heads of the other gator while they’re submerged. Some males will even start to mount the female in this state. It appears that the action of submerging the mate is a show of strength.
So how do alligators reproduce? They reproduce through sex. Both male and female gators have a cloaca. Female alligators have a slit that leads to the cloaca. This then leads to the species’ version of the uterus. The male gator’s cloaca holds its erect penis.
Alligators mate in water. The two gators will grapple and align their cloacas. Few researchers have observed the actual mating of gators. It happens under the water and in seclusion. It also only lasts for a minute or less. A female alligator will mate with different males over the course of the mating season. It’s the best way to ensure the eggs’ fertilization.
One Big Happy Alligator Family
Female alligators lay eggs from June to July. The males are not involved in the egg laying and care of the hatchlings.
A female gator will soon look for a good spot to build her nest. She will build it using mud and other vegetation. Most females will build their nests near water. These sites will often be within ten to 20 feet of water. Mother gators prefer marshy areas. An isolated body of water is ideal.
How does she build her nest? A female alligator will use her back legs to push mud around. They will create a depression on top of their nest and then lay her eggs there.
How many babies do alligators have? An alligator will lay about 20 to 50 eggs per season. She will cover these eggs with leaves and dirt. This will jumpstart the incubation process. It will also determine whether she will have female or male hatchlings.
Females happen if the temperatures in the nesting site reach 82 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Males appear in warmer temperatures. This is often around 90 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit. Nest temperatures that fall between 82 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit result in a mix of genders.
The babies will start to peep and chirp when they’re ready to hatch. The peeps tell the mother it’s time to start uncovering her eggs. Baby alligators have an eyetooth on their snout. They use it to break open their shells.
Experience the Circle of Life
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