Category: Reptiles


Underwater Fact 156

Alligators are social creatures and often stay in groups called congregations.

Alligators are cold-blooded reptiles that can’t control their body temperature internally. To regulate heat they have to go for a swim to cool down or lie in the sun to warm up.

Image © Chris Gillete for ‘The Earth’

There are two different types of alligator, which vary in size. The American alligator lives in the southern United States and can grow up to 3.4 meters (11.2 ft) long and weight nearly half a ton (1,000 lbs. or 454 kilograms). Chinese alligators are smaller, growing to around 1.5 m (5 ft) long and usually weighing around 23 kg (50 lbs).
They are traditionally found in rivers, lakes, ponds and swamps, but are now confined mostly to ditches and ponds on agricultural land. Much of their habitat has been converted to rice paddies.

Underwater Fact 130

Pygmy Geckos have water repelling skin that allows them to walk on water.

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Underwater Fact 106

Sea Turtles return to lay their eggs at the same beach on which they were born.

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Underwater Fact 82

Depending on the species, sea turtles may be carnivorous (meat eating), herbivorous (plant eating), or omnivorous (eating both meat and plants). The jaw structure of many species is adapted for their diet.

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Underwater Fact 79

Developing Sea Turtle hatchlings do not have sex chromosomes so their gender is determined by the temperature within the nest.

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Underwater Fact 57

Green sea turtles can stay under water for as long as five hours even though the length of a feeding dive is usually five minutes or less.
Their heart rate slows down to conserve oxygen: nine minutes may elapse between heartbeats.

Underwater Fact 52

Sea turtle nesting areas are becoming scarce due to beach development and disturbances.

Sea Turtle   © Sophia Volzke

→  Trash on the beach can cause female turtles to return to sea instead of nesting.

→  The noise and activity of people may also cause females to disrupt their breeding.

→  Artificial lighting on beaches may indicate daylight and inhibit nocturnal nesting turtles.

→  Also hatchlings can become disoriented by lights when trying to find the surf.

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