This alligator is in the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
Look closely and you will see an alligator peeking its head above the water. This photo is from Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. This vast state park is actually the largest state park in Florida, encompassing more than 85,000 acres. Wild Boyz Photography has brought you other wild creatures from Fakahatchee Strand.
From an evolutionary standpoint, alligators are incredible creatures. A study done at Florida State University showed the bite force (in psi) of the American Alligator to be almost 3000 psi. By contrast, lions, tigers, and hyenas produced about 1000 psi bite forces. Alligators have well adapted senses that have been fine tuned in their 150+ million-year lineage. They have two sets of eyelids, and are considered to have excellent vision. Their large snout would lead you to think alligators have a good sense of smell, and you would be correct. But did you know, despite no visible outer ear, alligators can also hear well. All of their sensory equipment (eyes, ears, nostrils) is placed on the top of their head, so they are exposed above the water when the alligator is floating at the surface.
If an Alligator comes for you, good luck. You may think, well perhaps on land I can outrun it. Think again! Alligators are actually faster on land than underwater. Alligators can move up to 35 mph on land and up to 20 mph in the water. Compare that to humans, Usain Bolt can run ~27 mph and Michael Phelps can swim ~6 mph.
Take a Closer Look
I love this photo for a few reasons. It is hard to discern the line where the water stops and the foliage of the Fakahatchee starts. The reflection of the plant life off the water gives perfect camouflage to the motionless alligator. I am just a few feet away trying not to get “lost in the lens”, and stalking a creature that is also stalking me. Loss of situational awareness in a setting like this could be the last mistake you make. Fortunately, I had a spotter in Ben, who kept an extra set of eyes on the scene.
It's hard to discern where the water stops and the foliage of the Fakahatchee starts
Did You Know?
- The largest alligator ever measured was over 19 feet long! It was estimated to weigh over 2000 pounds! It was measured in Louisiana in 1890.
- Alligators do not eat as frequently as humans do. Sometimes they only eat once or twice a week.
- Alligators are coldblooded. This means the air or water around them influences their body temperature.
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