Pepper- Melanistic American Alligator

 

Pepper- Melanistic American Alligator

Sex: Male

Latin name: Alligator mississippiensis

Melanism is an undue development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or its appendages and is the opposite of albinism. The word 'melanism' is deduced from a Greek word that means black pigment.

There are less than 20 of this morph known to exist in the world.

Native Home:  American Alligators are endemic to the southeastern United States.  They inhabit freshwater wetlands, such as marshes and cypress swamps from Texas to southeastern and coastalNorth Carolina.

Size:  Adult male American Alligators measure 3.4 to 4.6 m (11.2 to 15.1 ft) in length, and can weigh up to 453 kg (999 lb). Females are smaller, measuring 2.6 to 3 m (8.5 to 9.8 ft) in length.

Diet:  American Alligators are apex predators and consume fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Hatchlings feed mostly on invertebrates.

Reproduction: Male American Alligators use infrasound to attract females for breeding. The female lays 20 to 50 egg, and she female remains near the nest throughout the 65-day incubation period, protecting it from intruders. The babies are protected by their mother for up to one year. 

Lifespan:  The American Alligator can live between 30 to 50 years.