Category: Reptiles
This large reptile can reach lengths of 15 feet and a weight of almost 1000 pounds! They inhabit freshwater wetlands throughout the southeastern United States, with Louisiana and Florida boasting the highest numbers of wild American alligators. The holes they dig in their wetland environments form important habitat and sources of fresh water for other organisms.
http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/amphibians-reptiles-and-fish/american-alligator.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_alligator
The not-a-snake
The slow worm has a long body, lacks limbs, and is covered in lustrous scales - so is it a snake? No, it is a lizard! Because unlike snakes, the slow worm has eyelids, visible ears, and like many lizards, its tail can break off in the mouth of a predator, allowing them to escape for another day. The slow worm belongs to the Anguidae family, and similarly (but independently) lost their limbs to better adapt to their environments. These “not-snakes” can be found in gardens throughout Europe and the UK, helping to control the population of slugs and other pests, though you probably won’t see any if you have a cat: a slow worm will likely prove a favorite food of your cat!
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
