When it comes to alligators most people think they are heartless animals due to the fact that they prey on almost anything. But a recent study by scientists from the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory in South Carolina have discovered that the alligators might not be so heartless after all. These scientists have found that when the alligator mates, they actually stay with that same mate every other time it mates again. Over 70% of these mates will go back to each other and not mate with any other alligators. This is the first time that alligators can be compared to another species, the birds. The scientists show this by saying, "The same pair of alligators that bred together in 1997 would still be breeding together in 2005 and may still be producing nests together to this day." Thursday, April 8, 2010
Alligator Mating — For better or for worse
When it comes to alligators most people think they are heartless animals due to the fact that they prey on almost anything. But a recent study by scientists from the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory in South Carolina have discovered that the alligators might not be so heartless after all. These scientists have found that when the alligator mates, they actually stay with that same mate every other time it mates again. Over 70% of these mates will go back to each other and not mate with any other alligators. This is the first time that alligators can be compared to another species, the birds. The scientists show this by saying, "The same pair of alligators that bred together in 1997 would still be breeding together in 2005 and may still be producing nests together to this day." 
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It is pretty interesting that a reptile knows to go back to the same mate. They do seem like some pretty heartless creatures but seems they are a lot smarter then I thought.
ReplyDeleteI think its cute that alligators will stay committed to its mate when humans can't seem to even do that. Staying with the same mate is one of my favorite qualities about certain birds so it's cool to see that even reptiles have this trait.
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