User:Hamna Faisal

All about Alligator: Alligators are large reptiles, members of the order Crocodylia. Alligators and crocodiles are, therefore, closely related, and people often confuse one with the other; however, these two reptiles are very different. An alligator is distinguished by its wide, rounded snout and black color. An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. The two living species are the American alligator and the Chinese alligator. In addition, several extinct species of alligator are known from fossil remains. Q: Can alligators walk on land? Although crocodiles have been clocked swimming at 10 mph, there is no definitive answer for how fast an alligator can swim. When alligators walk on land, they can move very quickly and are capable of running at speeds of 7.5 to 9 mph for short distances. Q: What is done with alligators? Alligators have been harvested for some two hundred years. Alligators were first harvested in Louisiana in great numbers in the early 1800s. These alligators were harvested for their skins, which were used to make boots, shoes and saddles, and for their oil, which was used to grease steam engines and cotton mills. Q: Where do alligators live in the world? The only other species of alligator, the Alligator sinensis, is found in China and is a much smaller version of the American alligator. The United States is the only country in the world where alligators and crocodiles live side by side. Q: Can alligators live in the ocean? There are many things you may encounter when swimming in the ocean. Alligators probably aren't one of them. While alligators can tolerate salt water for a few hours or even days, they are primarily freshwater animals, living in swampy areas, rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. Q: Where does the saltwater crocodile live? Saltwater crocs, or "salties," as Australians affectionately refer to them, have an enormous range, populating the brackish and freshwater regions of eastern India, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia. They are excellent swimmers and have often been spotted far out at sea. By HAMNA FAISAL