Crocodilians
|
1. American alligator
2. America crocodile
|
 |
 |
| American alligator, Fairchild Gardens, 2008. This
is the first alligator that I have seen in Fairchild Gardens.
While we were taking pictures of a Florida softshell, it swam toward us
as if it was expecting food. Even though the signs are posted
around the ponds, prohibiting the feeding of alligators, it appears
that they have become quite accustomed to receiving handouts. |
 |
American alligator, Loop Road, Florida, USA, 2008. This
small alligator of approximately 2.5 feet long cross the road in front
of us.
|
 |
American alligator, Fakahatchee National Refuge,
Florida, 2008. Due to the current drought that Florida is in, there was
very little standing water in the refuge. In a small body of
water this alligator made his home.
|
|
|
 |
American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis),
Everglades, FL, USA, 2007.
Top: sunning at Anhinga Trail
Middle: A large male courting a much smaller female (snout up
in air) at Shark Valley.
Top: sunning at Shark Valley
|
 |
 |
Top: American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis),
Shark Valley,
Everglades, FL, USA. 2007. This is a good visual of the short, broad
snout and rounded head and snout of the alligator.
Bottom: American crocodile (Crocodylus
acutus),
University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA. 2006. In contrast to the
alligator, the crocodile has a slender, pointed snout with a triangular
head. |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Here
are a few head shots of alligators taken on Loop Road in the
Everglades, 2008. I think that how the head is the only part of the
body seen above water just makes an impressive photograph.
|
|
 |
This alligator came to ward us very quickly, and it was
so cool how you move in the water. If I wasn't on land taking this
picture and instead was in the water, this would be a rather scary
image.
|
 |
American alligator, Loop Road, Everglades, Florida,
USA, 2008. In a small ponds near the road there were eight to 10
alligators, ranging from four to 8 feet long. They were rather hungry
and eager to accept food from anywhere possible. We threw pieces of
cracker into the water; cichlids and sunfish ate the crackers, and the
alligators came to eat the fish. However, they only were able to
eat the cracker. We would place the crackers about 2 feet from
the shore where we were standing and they would come up to the shore to
eat them or at least the fish they were trying to eat the crackers.
|
|
 |
 |
American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis),
Grossman Hammock, Everglades, FL, USA. 2007.
Top: This large male was with a smaller female and several 2 foot long
babies. I got closer to take pictures of the babies, and this male got
defensive. He slipped into the water and came over to where I was. When
he went under water and I lost track of him, I decided that it was time
to move away from the water’s edge.
Middle and bottom: Baby alligators basking near the protection of their
mother (out of the
picture).
|
 |
 |
 |
| American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus),
University of
Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA. 2006. Sometimes crocs come up the canals
into the lake on campus. I have seen one individual numerous times and
a few times I have seen two individuals, so at least 2 individuals
frequent the lake. |
|