Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is the home of Alligators
Scientific Name: Alligator mississippiensis
Also commonly known as: Mississippi alligator, Pike-headed alligator, "gator".
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Alligators are found throughout the entire Southeastern United States including; Alabama, Arkansas, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. They usually occupy freshwater swamps and marshes but are also found in rivers, lakes and smaller bodies of water. Occasionally found in brackish water around mangrove swamps, alligators can tolerate a reasonable degree of salinity though the lack the buccal salt-secreting glands present in crocodiles.
It was once common to see male alligators 5 to 6 meters in length, however, today it is rate to see on over 4.5 meters. Females are much smaller reaching an average length of only 3 meters. The alligator snout is broad with the edge of the upper jaw overlapping the teeth of the lower jaw. The juveniles are miniature versions of their parents having what is known as disruptive camouflage. They have bright yellow bands across a black background. As juveniles get older their black and yellow coloring fades to brown and green. Their eyes are silvery in color. Adults generally take one of two forms: long and thin or short and stocky.
Alligator populations were dwindling up until the legal protection of the 1960's. Their belly skin produces a high quality leather, this led to increased hunting pressures early in the century especially in Louisiana and Florida. The species has recovered well thanks to properly controlled conservation and sustainable use programs. The populations have improved considerably and are now only considered to be threatened in some states by habitat destruction.
Along with the population increase there has come an increase in human-gator interaction on the edge of alligator habitat. Some communities have nuisance alligator programs in effect where individuals who have roamed too far are relocated. They have found however that these gators will often return to their home range within a few days. Currently population dynamics, though important, are poorly understood. Habitat modification is generally the demise of any population however proper management can benefit local populations. Increased education is the best long-term approach to these problems.
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Below are some photographs of the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park alligators.
The small photographs below are for your selection of larger photos. When you click on one of the photographs below, you will view a larger, more detailed photograph of picture you clicked on. |
