American Alligator Teaching Skull Replica
$212.00
Examine the intricate bone textures of Alligator mississippiensis with this hands-on teaching tool. This 12-inch replica provides a practical alternative to fragile natural specimens for classroom demonstrations. Students can study the unique dental structure and cranial anatomy up close.
- Description
- Additional information
Description
Teaching Specimen Details
The American alligator teaching skull replica is a museum-quality replica cast in durable polyurethane resin. This two-part specimen features a separate cranium and jaw. Proudly made in the USA, this teaching replica measures 12.0 x 5.0 x 3.5 inches.
Alligator Size and Range
Colloquially known as a gator, the American alligator is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States and a small population in Mexico. Adult males measure 11.2 to 15.1 ft. in length and weigh up to 999 lb. Females measure smaller at 8.5 to 9.8 ft. in length.
Habitat and Climate Tolerance
The American alligator inhabits freshwater wetlands, such as marshes and cypress swamps from Tamaulipas in Mexico to southeastern and coastal North Carolina. It differs from the sympatric American crocodile because it has a broader snout, overlapping jaws, and darker coloration. It tolerates cooler climates well but has less tolerance for saltwater.
Ecosystem Engineers and Diet
As apex predators, American Alligators consume fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Hatchlings feed mostly on invertebrates. They serve as ecosystem engineers in wetland ecosystems by creating alligator holes. These holes provide both wet and dry habitats for other organisms.
Bellowing and Maternal Care
American alligator bellow throughout the year to declare territory and locate suitable mates. Males use infrasound to attract females. Mothers lay eggs in a nest of vegetation, sticks, leaves, and mud in a sheltered spot in or near the water. Young hatch with yellow bands around their bodies. Their mother protects them for up to one year.
Detailed Conservation History
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the conservation status as least concern (IUCN 3.1). Historically, hunting had decimated their population. The American alligator was listed as an endangered species by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Subsequent conservation efforts allowed their numbers to increase. The species was removed from endangered status in 1987.
Scientific classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Crocodilia
- Family: Alligatoridae
- Subfamily: Alligatorinae
- Genus: Alligator Cuvier, 1807
- Type species: Alligator mississippiensis
- Temporal range: Middle Pleistocene–Present
- Conservation status: Least concern
Related Reptile Replicas
If you find this replica interesting, you may also like our American alligator, Nile crocodile, or the broad-snouted caiman. Shop for more museum-quality replicas in our reptile store.
Additional information
| Weight | 6.0 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 12.0 × 5.0 × 3.5 in |
| National Alligator Day - May 29th | National Alligator Day is celebrated annually on May 29 to raise awareness of the importance of alligators and their need for conservation. Alligators are the state reptile of Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi, and can be found throughout the Southern United States in freshwater lakes, marshes, swamps, rivers, canals, and the Everglades. |
