Juvenile on board

Did you do a double take? Me too. The striking behaviour of the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) reflects the strong parental care - and perhaps patience - shown by female alligators during the early months of a juvenile’s life. After hatching, young alligators often remain close to their mother, who offers protection from predators and even other adult alligators. Resting on the adult’s head or back provides safety, warmth, and a vantage point above the water’s surface. Contrary to common belief, adult alligators do not indiscriminately attack everything nearby; feeding behaviour is context-specific. In this case, the adult recognises the juvenile as its own offspring and tolerates its presence, demonstrating an important survival strategy within the species.

Picture by Zygy, shared here with a Creative Commons license.