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Going Out To Swim With Alligators Is A Huge Thrill

By Alta Alexander


Alligators and crocodiles are pre historic creatures and are still very much around. They are truly beautiful animals but they do require that people respectfully keep their distance. Those that swim with alligators do so when they are on a leash and when their mouths are securely taped closed. Keeping out of the way of their powerful tails is also very important.

There are many people that are not sure what the difference is between an alligator and a crocodile and to be honest there are many similarities between the two. First of all there are three family groups of crocodiles namely the alligatoridae, the alligator and the caiman fall under this one. The crocodylidae, the gavialidae and the true crocodile falls under the next group. The last one is the gharial. So alligators are a different family from the crocodiles.

A respectable distance should be about sixty feet and if they begin to hiss and also lunge towards one it is their way of saying that the distance is too close. They might seem slow but they are very powerful and can move very fast over short distances. Many people say that not running in a straight line is better, but this is not true as they run in straight lines and cannot keep up the speed for long periods of time.

If ever one comes across one crossing a road do not attempt to move it. It will eventually move along by itself so just be patient. They generally move around during the breeding seasons which are summer and spring. Also never throw anything at them as this can cause injuring or even killing them and it is punishable by a big fine or days spent behind bars.

The most popular specie to be kept captive was the Caiman crocodile but has now been taken over by the Dwarf caimans. They do not grow to be very large and seem to be more available. Their natural habitat is along the Amazon River in South America. They are more nocturnal and will spend their days hiding out in burrows.

The quickest and easiest way to distinguish between the crocodile and the alligator is the shape of their noses. The alligators will have a very distinct rounded shape very much like a shovel and the crocodiles have more of a "V" shape to them. The broader nose is specially designed for extra strength and can apply massive force. This is to enable them to snack on any hard shelled invertebrates as well as turtles.

These are less likely to spend a lot of time in water as they generally live in mostly shaded areas with fast moving water in the wild. They do not like to be in a lot of light during the day and seem to be more active at night. Ensure that their area is large so they can explore and if there is no water in the enclosure it is not a train smash.

Introducing children to them is a good thing as they will learn that respect is needed when in their habitat. Those that are allowed to attend parties are needed to be kept on a leash at all times to prevent injury. They are generally also restrained by tape in order to keep the mouths closed.




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