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American alligators do not normally reach such extreme sizes. In mature males, most specimens grow up to about 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in) in length, and weigh up to 360 kg (790 lb), [7] while in females, the mature size is normally around 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in), with a body weight up to 91 kg (201 lb).
Females can build or dig several trial nests which appear incomplete and abandoned later. Egg-laying usually takes place at night and about 30–40 minutes. [88] Females are highly protective of their nests and young. The eggs are hard shelled, but translucent at the time of egg-laying. Depending on the species of crocodile, 7 to 95 eggs are laid.
Between February and June, females dig 35–56 cm (14–22 in) deep holes for nesting between 1 and 2,000 m (3 ft 3 in and 6,561 ft 8 in) away from the waterside. They lay up to two clutches with 8 –46 eggs each. Eggs weigh 128 g (4.5 oz) on average. Laying of one clutch usually takes less than half an hour.
Average clutch size is 38 eggs, and fecundity is over 20% after 15 years old. The species has a high adult survival rate and a long life span. [25] Like all true crocodilians, the American crocodile is a quadruped, with short, stocky legs; a long, powerful tail; and a scaly hide with rows of ossified scutes running down its back and tail. [26]
Although most attacks do occur in water, alligators have attacked humans and pets on land. ... An alligator apparently trying to protect its eggs lashes out at a blue heron earlier this month at a ...
Recchio rushed to the park and found a 7½-foot-long alligator strong and lean from life in the wild. Reggie was cornered, and was as agitated as a young male alligator can be. ... alligators are ...
Alligators and caimans split in North America during the early Tertiary or late Cretaceous (about 53 million to 65 million years ago). [4] [5] The Chinese alligator split from the American alligator about 33 million years ago [4] and probably descended from a lineage that crossed the Bering land bridge during the Neogene.
The alligator project leader for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said alligators are in any sizable body of fresh water below the state’s Fall Line, which runs roughly ...