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There
are two species of Crocodilians native to the USA, namely the
American alligator and the
American crocodile. Crocodiles are less common in Florida, so any
sightings will most likely be an alligator which can be recognized by
its broad snout, whereas crocodiles have a longer, narrow snout.
Male alligators grow to between 12 - 15 feet (4 - 4.5 metres), the
females to 10 feet (3 - 3.5 metres), they live to an age of 30 to 35
years in the wild and longer in captivity.
Young alligators are black, with bright yellow stripes on their backs
and cream-colored bellies.
As they mature they lose the stripes, but the stomach remains
light-colored. To an untrained eye, there's nothing external to
distinguish the male from the female.
Alligators usually favor habitats such as shallow freshwater lakes,
swamps and marshes, rivers and man made canals.
They are often seen
sunning themselves along Florida riverbanks and can sometimes be seen
swimming across rivers and streams.
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Young alligators are black, with bright yellow stripes on their backs
and cream-colored bellies.
As they mature they lose the stripes, but the stomach remains
light-colored. To an untrained eye, there's nothing external to
distinguish the male from the female.
Alligators usually favor habitats such as shallow freshwater lakes,
swamps and marshes, rivers and man made canals.
They are often seen
sunning themselves along Florida riverbanks and can sometimes be seen
swimming across rivers and streams.
In the Everglades where deep, open
water is limited, the females live in ponds and venture into open areas
to attract the males at breeding times. Nesting occurs in June and July
with hatching in August.
Thanks to more enlightened protection in recent times, the alligator
population has recovered. It is illegal in Florida to feed alligators
and it is illegal to hunt alligators in the wild.
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 Alligator farming has now developed into a viable commercial
enterprise, providing numerous high-value products. It is also makes a
significant contribution to a conservation strategy for this
once-endangered natural resource.
Most visitors to Florida will find
that a visit to one of the many alligator farms throughout the state
will provide the best opportunity to see these incredible animals.
Florida
Everglades
Florida
vacations
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