Who Lives in an Alligator Hole

Who Lives in an Alligator Hole

What do you know about alligators? That they are scary looking, with big jaws and sharp teeth? What do you think they're good for? Gator wrestling? Being made into shoes. purses, and wallets? Being fried for supper? Alligators are good for more than that.

Alligators are members of an ancient group of animals called crocodilians. Their ancestors, such as Geosaurus, were on earth 160 million years ago, when dinosaurs lived. Dinosaurs became extinct, but crocodilians adapted and survived.

All crocodilians are cold-blooded reptiles. They warm their blood by basking in the sun. Most live in hot, wet places, but alligators can live in cooler climates than other crocodilians. They are found in the swamps, lakes, rivers, and bayous of the southeastern United States.

For a long time people thought American alligators were the only kind in the world. Then about one hundred years ago, alligators were discovered in China. Chinese alligators are shorter and fatter than American ones.

More alligators live in Florida than anywhere else. In the Everglades there is a wet season, when it rains every day. There is also a dry season, when it hardly rains at all. The ground is covered with saw grass and muck. Underneath the muck is mud. Underneath the mud is limestone. Underneath the limestone is fresh water. In some places there is a hollow in the limestone a few feet deep, where underground water can seep up through the stone.