The
differences between alligators and crocodiles:
Alligators:
The fourth tooth of an alligator’s lower jaw fits into a pocket on
his upper jaw.
An alligator’s snout is broader and more squared off.
Crocodiles:
The fourth tooth of a crocodile’s lower jaw fits into a groove in
the side
of his upper jaw—his tooth is visible even when his mouth is closed.
Alligators / Crocodiles
How to tell
alligators and crocodiles apart: the fourth tooth of an alligator’s lower
jaw fits into a pocket on his upper jaw. The same tooth on a crocodile
fits into a
groove in the side of his upper jaw-his tooth is visible even when his
mouth
is closed. Also the alligator has a much broader snout than the crocodile.
Alligator Facts
Alligators are very large
reptiles. They are related to crocodiles.
Alligators and crocodiles look very much alike, but you can tell
them apart. Crocodiles have a fourth tooth that sticks out from
the lower jaw on each side. The alligator does not. The
alligators
have flatter, broader heads. Their snouts are rounded.
An alligators snout is shorter than a crocodile's.
Alligators live in warm water. They live in
swamps, rivers,
lakes, and other marshland. They live in fresh water.
Once in awhile they may go into the ocean for a short period of time.
Alligators are carnivorous. They like to eat: fish, turtles, rats,
snakes, mammals, and sometimes other alligators.
They will eat almost anything they can overpower.
Alligators are found in warm areas. They can be found in two places
around the world, the southeastern United States and in the Yangtze
River in China. The Chinese alligator is the smaller of the two.
It rarely
grows beyond 5 feet. The American alligator is much bigger.
The
average American alligator is usually between 6 and 12 feet long.
Alligators swim with most of their bodies under water. The color of their
skin usually blends in with the muddy, murky water. The color of
adult alligators dark, greenish dull brown. Usually only their
nostrils
and eyes are above the water. The young alligators
are almost all black with yellow spots and stripes.
An alligator is a large reptile. It has four very short legs.
The tail of an alligator is very muscular and extremely strong.
The tail helps it to be a strong swimmer. A protective covering of
bony plates run down the back of the alligator. They are under the skin.
The life span of an
average alligator in the wild is about 30 - 35 years.
Alligators in captivity can usually live up to 50 years.
Alligators are extremely flexible and quick. Any alligator over the size
of 12 feet long is very rare. Alligators at one time were almost
extinct.
An alligator has about 80 teeth in its mouth at one time.
When its teeth wear down its teeth are replaced by new teeth.
An alligator can go through more than 2000 teeth in a lifetime.
Female alligators protect their nests. They will lay between 30 - 70 eggs.
She makes a nest of mud and different water plants on the side of a bank
near a lake, river, pond, swamp, or marshland. The eggs will hatch
in about 60 days.
Alligators bellow, grunt, or croak. Baby alligators peep when they hatch.
The mother alligator carries the babies to the river in her mouth.
In cold weather, the alligator digs a hole in mud and buries himself.
He breathes slowly and sleeps until the weather warms up.
Alligator Music
From the
Really Rosie CD Carole King sings "Alligators All Around".
Alligator Applause
Do you need
a way to thank your classroom volunteers?
Give them a little alligator applause with this thank you
poster. To make one, cut a 3' x 3' square from blue bulletin
board paper. Use a permanent marker to write a message
in the center of the paper. (for example, "Thanks for helping
in our classroom! See you later, alligator!") Next, invite
each
child to make a green handprint (fingers together and thumb out)
on the edge of the poster; then write his or her name near the print.
When the paint is dry have the child glue a wiggly eye and paper
teeth onto the print. Carefully, roll up the poster, tie a green
ribbon around it and then present it to a special someone.
Pre-K
Fun Theme Pages are for educational reference only!
No copyright infringement is intended.
I do not claim any of these as my own
ideas.
They are shared from friends and fellow
group
members.
Thanks for sharing all your great ideas!
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