USA/Florida: Everglades Nat’l Park – Alligators & Other Reptiles

One animal you are sure to see in The Everglades is the alligator – dozens if not hundreds of them swimming in the murky shallow waters, sunning on the banks, or just floating as of they were logs. American Alligator is a species endemic to the Southern USA only and is completely different from crocodiles (although they look quite similar to the Nile crocs). They grow to 15 feet (5 meters) long and can weigh up to 1000 pounds (500 kg). They are abundant in the Everglades and are listed as “least endangered”. In fact – stop at any restaurant or diner in the area and you can try “gator nuggets” – chunks of alligator tail, breaded and cooked, white meat tasting like chicken. Besides the gators, there are also various snakes and turtles abundant in the swampy glades.