Gator Closeup

ABOUT THE SHOT:
Sometimes you have to get close to an animal to really see them. Here is a extreme closeup shot of a young alligator that actually did not seem to mind my presence.Alligators are rare in North Texas, but can be seen on occasion in lakes and swampy areas.

Equipment: Camera Nikon D300 with Nikkor macro lens

GATOR EYE

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Description: American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) inhabit the southeastern United States. Once a federally listed endangered species, American alligators have recovered and are common in many areas of the Southeast. The species is still federally listed as threatened because it looks like the American crocodile, which is endangered.
Alligators are long-lived animals whose life spans can exceed 60 years. Alligators are “cold-blooded,” meaning that they are ectothermic animals that cannot regulate their own body temperature, but assume the temperatures of their surrounding environment. To warm themselves, alligators bask in the sun, which is when they are frequently observed on the banks of water bodies. On hot summer days they can sometimes be seen basking with their mouths open. This is a cooling mechanism essentially equivalent to a dog panting. Ecologically, alligators are important predators and create important habitat for other wildlife by digging holes that hold water during droughts.

Range and habitat: Alligators occur on the Atlantic Coast of North America from Florida through coastal North Carolina, and along the Gulf Coast into Texas.Alligators live in swampy areas, rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. Females and juveniles occasionally use seasonal wetlands. Although they are primarily freshwater animals, alligators will also venture into brackish salt water.