Alligators The Illustrated Guide to Their Biology, Behavior, and Conservation / Kent A. Vliet ; photographs by Wayne Lynch.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Vliet, Kent A., 1956- author.

Contributor:

Lynch, Wayne, photographer.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Alligators--Conservation.

Alligators.

Alligators--Behavior.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (302 pages)

Manufacture:

Baltimore, Md. : Project MUSE, 2020

Place of Publication:

Baltimore : Johns Hopkins University Press, 2020.

Summary:

The ultimate guide to understanding the biology and behavior of the amazing and underappreciated American alligator. Few scenes put the senses on edge more than a submerged alligator, only eyes and snout showing, when peering across a southern lake on a misty morning. An iconic American predator, these reptiles grow to thirteen feet or more and can live as long as humans. Alligators are complex creatures, capable of terrific attacks and yet tending to their young in the same gentle way a mother duck looks after her brood. Once extremely numerous, alligators came close to extinction in the twentieth century, but thanks to conservation efforts have since made a comeback, reclaiming their rightful place as the monarchs of the southern wetlands. In this fascinating account, richly illustrated with more than 150 photographs from award-winning wildlife photographer Wayne Lynch, expert zoologist Kent A. Vliet introduces readers to the biology, ecology, and natural history of the American alligator. Sharing nuanced depictions of their hidden lives that will forever change the way you think of these giant reptiles, the book * combines captivating storytelling with the most current scientific facts * chronicles the life cycle of the alligator * explains why the alligator's precise anatomy and physiology make it so successful * covers a wide range of topics, from courtship and reproduction to communication, basking, nest-building, and hunting * reveals the alligator's sophisticated social life in detail * evaluates the alligator's environmental role as a keystone species * examines the complicated relationship between alligators and people

Contents:

A dragon among us

First encounters

Alligator adaptations

Where they live

Sun bathers

An alligator's appetite

Meet the relatives

Love is in the water

Small beginnings

Long chances and long life

Alligator societies

Living with alligators

From slaughter to salvation

Alligators at sunset

Appendix A. species names mentioned in the text

Appendix B. places to see wild alligators.

Notes:

Includes index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781421433387

OCLC:

1137156625