The Alligator Courtship Dance
In The Alligator Courtship Dance, 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 Learn to 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 Crocodilians, Ancient Apex Predators, evolutionary biologist Ben Garrod meets some crocodilians. This category includes crocodiles, alligators, and other similar species that use their sensitive skin to detect pressure and vibrations, especially in murky waters where their vision is limited. This unique adaptation helps them hunt and survive as an apex predator. This video is excerpted from Secrets of Skin, a documentary series exploring the natural history of the body’s largest organ.