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Gifts for Wild Animal Lovers |
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Gifts for Wild Animal Lovers : For Reptile Lovers : American Alligator #9024
The American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is a member of the one of the three families of crocodile-like reptiles, whose members are living fossils from the Age of Reptiles, having survived on earth for 200 million years. However, the alligators can be distinguished from the crocodiles and ghavial by their head shape and color. The crocodiles have a narrower snout, and unlike the alligators, have teeth in their lower jaw which are visible even when the mouth is shut. In addition, adult alligators are black, while crocodiles are brownish in color.
As with all crocodilians, and the extinct traditional dinosaurs, alligators are of the reptilian branch known as archosaurs. Modern birds are generally viewed at present as living dinosaurs of the maniraptor group. Assuming this is correct, the birds are also archosaurs and thus alligators are far more closely related to birds than they are to lizards, snakes, turtles or the tuatara.
Anatomy
The American Alligator has a large, slightly rounded body, with thick limbs, a broad head, and a very powerful tail. The tail, which accounts for half of the alligator's total length, is primarily used for aquatic propulsion. The tail can also be used as a weapon of defense when an alligator feels threatened. While alligators travel very quickly in water, they are generally slow-moving on land. However, they have the ability to sprint for short distances.
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