The Alligator Dance: Courtship Behaviors in the Florida Everglades
In The Alligator Dance: Courtship Behaviors in the Florida Everglades, male alligators in the Everglades engage in their bellowing ritual in hopes of attracting a mate. This video is excerpted from BBC's Natural World Florida: America's Animal Paradise, a series displaying Florida’s diverse wildlife and its resilience against increasing environmental threats.
Lesson Express
Q: Why do male alligators bellow during the dry season of winter and early spring?
A: Their sound signals their strength to other males in order to ward them off. They also bellow to attract a female.
Q: What is the female alligator’s behavior during this season?
A: She responds to the male alligator’s call and leads him around for several days before finally mating. Then she separates from the male and prepares a nest for her eggs.
Q: What other types of animals thrive in the Everglades environment?
A: Thousands of marshland species like flamingos, turtles, owls, and insects live in the wetlands year-round, and migrating birds stay there during the winter months.
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In Alligator Hatchlings: Learning to Perfect the Hunt, the summer wet season rejuvenates Florida landscapes and provides the ideal habitat for baby alligators. This video is excerpted from BBC's Natural World Florida: America's Animal Paradise, a series displaying Florida’s diverse wildlife and its resilience against increasing environmental threats.
In Alligator Hatchlings: Learning to Perfect the Hunt, the summer wet season rejuvenates Florida landscapes and provides the ideal habitat for baby alligators. This video is excerpted from BBC's Natural World Florida: America's Animal Paradise, a series displaying Florida’s diverse wildlife and its resilience against increasing environmental threats.