American Alligator

Description:

In the water, alligators swim like fish; moving their pelvic regions and tails from side to side. Alligators have broad snouts. When the jaws are closed, the edge of the upper jaws covers the lower teeth which fit into depressions in the upper jaw. There were two in this pond observing visitors.

Habitat:

Jungle Gardens is a 170-acre (0.69 km2) botanical garden and bird sanctuary located on Avery Island, Louisiana. The gardens were created by Edward Avery McIlhenny, second son of Edmund McIlhenny, the inventor of Tabasco sauce. In 1895 McIlhenny raised eight egrets in captivity on the island, and released them in the fall for migration. They returned the next spring with other egrets, and have continued to do so over generations. Today thousands of egrets inhabit the island from early spring to late summer.

Notes:

The gardens are planted with azaleas, Japanese Camellias, hydrangeas, Louisiana irises, Papyrus Sedges, bamboo, and wisteria. A glass temple, set within a Chinese garden, houses a centuries-old statue of Buddha given to McIlhenny in 1936. Four miles of gravel roads are lined with live oak trees and Spanish moss. There are also many walking paths. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungle_Gard...