Do Alligators Lay Eggs in Nests or Underwater?

 

Alligators are one of the biggest and meanest-looking animals on the planet. An adult American gator can grow an average of 13 to 15 feet in length and weigh more than 500 pounds. A female gator is a little smaller. They often grow to nine feet and weigh around 200 pounds or more. Their size alone can scare anyone. Add in a jaw full of razor-sharp teeth and a long tail that can pack a punch and you have the stuff of nightmares.

Alligators don’t always look this way though. They begin life as eggs. It’s true that alligators lay eggs that are squishy and small enough that any mammal can scoff down for dinner. But alligator moms are very maternal. It’s another surprising detail about this minuscule dinosaur.

For those wondering how alligators reproduce, the answer is simple. They mate. Alligators reproduce through sex. The mating season for the American gator starts in the spring. Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says it's between May and June. But the courtship process could start as early as April.

Studies have shown that these reptiles have a complex courtship ritual. They show their interest by making bellowing sounds to attract potential mates. Males also have to prove to a female gator that they’re better than her other suitors. They do this by rubbing and pressing their snout and back against the female. The entire courtship could take hours, but the actual mating is short. It reportedly takes a minute and happens in the water.