American Alligator

Description:

Pictured above is an American alligator, which is scientifically known as an Alligator mississippiensis. This beautiful creature was spotted in Broussard, Louisiana at the Zoo of Acadiana. As you can see this alligator stands out, as it is white. There are two types of white alligators which are often mistaken for each other. The first type is an albino alligator. These are mostly like the typical American alligator except they lack a pigment called melanin. The second type is a leucistic alligator. These have translucent white skin and usually dark blue eyes. Unlike their relatives, leucistic ones have only partial pigmentation loss. The two can be distinguished from each other by looking at their eye color. Albino alligators have pale-reddish eyes, whereas leucistic alligators have “normal” eyes, as leucism does not affect eye color. White alligators of both kinds are very rare and there are said to be only about 12 remaining in the world, many of which come from right here in Louisiana. Due to their striking appearance, white alligators can only survive in captivity. Because of their bright color, they cannot hide themselves which makes them a target. They also need sunscreen as they are extremely sensitive to sunlight. Besides these differences, they are much like the typical American alligator. On average, alligators can live up to 30 to 50 years in the wild, but there have been some exceptions to that. Their diet starts off with small bugs and fish. As they continue to grow, their diet can range from anything between birds to deer. Fact #1: In the 1950s the American alligator was an endangered species. It took about 20 years for their population to return to a normal level. Fact #2: An average male alligator ranges from 10 to 15 feet long, half of which is its tail.

Habitat:

They reside in swamps, freshwater rivers, and lakes mainly in Florida and Louisiana. They are cold blooded therefore their temperature varies depending on their environment.

Notes:

References: “American Alligator.” American Alligators, National Geographic, 10 Sept. 2010, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/repti.... Heimbuch, Jaymi. “What's the Difference between Albino and Leucistic?” What's the Difference between Albino and Leucistic?, Mother Nature Network, 10 Aug. 2017, www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/.... “World's First Piebald Alligator and Extremely Rare Leucistic Alligator.” World's First Piebald Alligator and Extremely Rare Leucistic Alligator Named Ambassadors of New High Tech, Interactive Zoo & Education Facility, Cision PR Newswire, 19 May 2016, www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/worlds-....