Alligator: A fearsome bite, but gentle parents

The alligator is a "living fossil" from the age of dinosaurs: a distant cousin of dinosaurs, it has kept nearly the same body for 200 million years. It has a huge, powerful bite, and looks fierce — yet it is surprisingly gentle with its young. Let's meet it.

Its body

The alligator measures about 2.5 to 4 metres, with a stout body, hard bony plates along its back and a powerful tail for swimming. Its eyes and nostrils sit on top of its head, so with the body submerged only the eyes and nose need to show to scan its surroundings. Its bite is formidable enough to crush hard shells; interestingly, though, the muscles that open its jaws are relatively weak.

Where it lives and what it eats

The alligator is a carnivore, eating fish, turtles, birds and small mammals. It often lies in wait at the water's edge and strikes when prey comes close. It lives in warm freshwater habitats such as swamps, rivers and lakes.

How it cares for its young

Fierce as it is, the alligator is a devoted parent: the female guards the nest and protects the eggs from predators, and once the hatchlings emerge she carefully carries her babies to the water inside her jaws. That gentle care contrasts sharply with its image as a fearsome hunter.

A quick way to tell them apart

An alligator has a broad, rounded snout with the lower teeth hidden when the mouth is closed, while a crocodile has a narrow, pointed snout with the lower teeth showing even when closed. That is the simplest way to tell them apart.

A note for grown-ups

You could talk with a child about how something can look fierce yet be gentle — an alligator protects its babies. Helping a child see that you cannot judge an animal by its looks alone is valuable. When observing crocodilians, always keep a safe distance.