Alligator
. Alligator (Spanish el lagarto,”the lizard”), common name for two carnivorous reptiles in the crocodilian order. Alligators and their close relatives the caimans have broad, flat, and rounded snouts, as opposed to the longer, sharper snouts of other crocodilians; also unlike other crocodilians, their lower teeth cannot be seen when their mouths are closed. Alligators feed on fish, frogs, snakes, turtles, birds, mammals, and carrion. In North America they are also known to attack humans occasionally. Alligators can survive a wider range of temperatures than other crocodilians, and they are found in more temperate regions. Their breeding season is generally restricted to spring. When alligators search for a mate they bellow often, perhaps to announce their presence to females and to warn other males to stay away. Unwanted intruders are confronted with ritual gaping, lunging, and hissing, but courtship behavior is sedate. After mating, the male seeks his own territory while the female bu