Crocodiles and Alligators
Respitory and Circulatory Systems
Crocodiles and alligators breathe using their lungs. The elaboration of the internal surface of the lungs is simple. They breathe by changing the volume of the body chamber. The surface area is increased by the development of partitions that in turn have alveoli. As humans do, crocodiles and alligators have a four chambered heart. The valves that are under the nervous or hormonal control can alter blood flow. Like all reptiles they are cold blooded. Their blood contains complex hemoglobin molecules as well.
Crocodiles and alligators breathe using their lungs. The elaboration of the internal surface of the lungs is simple. They breathe by changing the volume of the body chamber. The surface area is increased by the development of partitions that in turn have alveoli. As humans do, crocodiles and alligators have a four chambered heart. The valves that are under the nervous or hormonal control can alter blood flow. Like all reptiles they are cold blooded. Their blood contains complex hemoglobin molecules as well.
Reproduction
Crocodiles and alligators are sexually dimorphic which is a the condition in which the males and females in a species are morphologically different. When mating the male mounts the females back and they rotate tails so respective cloacae are brought into contact. Then intromission of the male's erective organ is achieved. Mating is done in water. The female lays twelve to forty-eight eggs, depending on her size, age, and species. Before laying eggs the female builds a nest. When the eggs hatch the young make a noise so the mother can dig them out. The temperature determines the gender of the young.
Crocodiles and alligators are sexually dimorphic which is a the condition in which the males and females in a species are morphologically different. When mating the male mounts the females back and they rotate tails so respective cloacae are brought into contact. Then intromission of the male's erective organ is achieved. Mating is done in water. The female lays twelve to forty-eight eggs, depending on her size, age, and species. Before laying eggs the female builds a nest. When the eggs hatch the young make a noise so the mother can dig them out. The temperature determines the gender of the young.
Excretory System
Crocodiles and alligators get rid of waste in their body as ammonia. They drink lots of water. This helps them weaken the ammonia so they can get it out of their body. If they didn't drink lots of water then the ammonia would harm their body. Their kidneys help with this.
Crocodiles and alligators get rid of waste in their body as ammonia. They drink lots of water. This helps them weaken the ammonia so they can get it out of their body. If they didn't drink lots of water then the ammonia would harm their body. Their kidneys help with this.
Digestive System
Crocodiles and alligators digest food just like we do. The only difference is that they can't chew up their food very well. They bite the prey enough to kill it, but they can't chew it into small pieces. They have a special digestive tract to process large pieces of food. This helps them when they swallow things whole.
Crocodiles and alligators digest food just like we do. The only difference is that they can't chew up their food very well. They bite the prey enough to kill it, but they can't chew it into small pieces. They have a special digestive tract to process large pieces of food. This helps them when they swallow things whole.
Internal Fertilization
Internal fertilization is fertilization in the body. This affects reptiles when they moved onto land. The egg developed a shell. This protects the egg. It also protects it from water loss. This way the egg doesn't have to be laid in water.
Internal fertilization is fertilization in the body. This affects reptiles when they moved onto land. The egg developed a shell. This protects the egg. It also protects it from water loss. This way the egg doesn't have to be laid in water.
Adaptations
There are many adaptations that have helped reptiles move onto land. One reason is that they made hard shelled eggs. Also, they developed legs. They need these to move around on land, and they didn't have them before because they just swam. Another reason is that the eggs hatch as adults. They used to go through a tadpole like stage. Now they don't have to live half of their life in water. Finally, they developed lungs. They obviously need these to breathe. They didn't have them before since they lived in water.
There are many adaptations that have helped reptiles move onto land. One reason is that they made hard shelled eggs. Also, they developed legs. They need these to move around on land, and they didn't have them before because they just swam. Another reason is that the eggs hatch as adults. They used to go through a tadpole like stage. Now they don't have to live half of their life in water. Finally, they developed lungs. They obviously need these to breathe. They didn't have them before since they lived in water.
Examples
There are many types of crocodiles and alligators. There is the American alligator. This lives in the southeastern part of America. The gavial is another type. It lives in India, and it has a longer skinnier jaw. The saltwater crocodile is the largest type of reptile. It lives in Australia and India. The fourth type is the Nile crocodile. This animal lives in Africa. Finally, there is the West African dwarf crocodile. This is the smallest crocodile species in the world. It also lives in Africa.
There are many types of crocodiles and alligators. There is the American alligator. This lives in the southeastern part of America. The gavial is another type. It lives in India, and it has a longer skinnier jaw. The saltwater crocodile is the largest type of reptile. It lives in Australia and India. The fourth type is the Nile crocodile. This animal lives in Africa. Finally, there is the West African dwarf crocodile. This is the smallest crocodile species in the world. It also lives in Africa.
Food Sources and Habitat
Alligators and crocodiles eat a lot of animals. The babies may also eat insects and other small animals. After catching their prey, they drown it by holding it under water. Then they twist off chunks of flesh by spinning its own body in the water. They live in marshes, rivers, swamps, and lakes.
Alligators and crocodiles eat a lot of animals. The babies may also eat insects and other small animals. After catching their prey, they drown it by holding it under water. Then they twist off chunks of flesh by spinning its own body in the water. They live in marshes, rivers, swamps, and lakes.
Endangerment
Alligators and crocodiles are wanted in the trading industry. They have always been killed for food, clothing, and jewelry. Their skins can be made into shoes, suitcases, handbags, watch bands, and fancy belts. Alligators and crocodiles have been dying off when they started making modern weapons.
Alligators and crocodiles are wanted in the trading industry. They have always been killed for food, clothing, and jewelry. Their skins can be made into shoes, suitcases, handbags, watch bands, and fancy belts. Alligators and crocodiles have been dying off when they started making modern weapons.
Cool Facts
These animals are very cool in many ways. They have a throat pouch that blocks water so that they can eat under the water. They have eyes just like a cat. Their irises can be closed much faster than a round pupil like people have. This lets them see much better at night. Also, when a female lays eggs, the temperature decides whether the baby is a girl or a boy. They also have dotted sensory pits along their upper and lower jaws. These find small changes in the water pressure to help them find their prey. Alligators have these sensory pits just on their jaw. Crocodiles have one of these on each scale of their body.
These animals are very cool in many ways. They have a throat pouch that blocks water so that they can eat under the water. They have eyes just like a cat. Their irises can be closed much faster than a round pupil like people have. This lets them see much better at night. Also, when a female lays eggs, the temperature decides whether the baby is a girl or a boy. They also have dotted sensory pits along their upper and lower jaws. These find small changes in the water pressure to help them find their prey. Alligators have these sensory pits just on their jaw. Crocodiles have one of these on each scale of their body.
Nervous System
The nervous system consists of a complex brain, spinal nerve, and a spinal cord. The size of the brain depends on the size of the cerebral hemisphere. Crocodiles and alligators also have sensory organs. They have a strong sense of smell and have extremely quick reflexes.
The nervous system consists of a complex brain, spinal nerve, and a spinal cord. The size of the brain depends on the size of the cerebral hemisphere. Crocodiles and alligators also have sensory organs. They have a strong sense of smell and have extremely quick reflexes.
Skin and Bones
Alligators and crocodiles have skin that is covered with scales. Beneath these scales, they have another layer of skin that is like armor. Both of these layers of skin are strong and flexible. Their skin is built with rows of bony overlapping shingles. These shingles are part of the animals back tissue. Their bones are flexible and strong, but they don't have a collar bone.
Alligators and crocodiles have skin that is covered with scales. Beneath these scales, they have another layer of skin that is like armor. Both of these layers of skin are strong and flexible. Their skin is built with rows of bony overlapping shingles. These shingles are part of the animals back tissue. Their bones are flexible and strong, but they don't have a collar bone.
Video
log-in:wsr267
password:aea267
log-in:wsr267
password:aea267