This Video of a Completely Camouflaged Gator Will Make You Never Want to Swim Again

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Imagine enjoying a sunny summer day and you happen to gaze down at a seemingly empty body of water. Unbeknownst to you, however, a ten-foot-long dinosaur-like creature lies in wait just below the surface, ready to strike at any moment. You might assume you would notice some hint of the animal’s presence, but as you can see in this video, an alligator’s natural camouflage is like having the power of invisibility — and might just make you think twice about swimming in the wild ever again.

Where Do Alligators Live?

Two alligator species live on Earth today: the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis). The alligator featured in the video above is an American alligator, the larger of the two species. American alligators are found throughout the southeastern United States, particularly in Louisiana and Florida. They live in freshwater habitats like marshes, swamps, slow-moving rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and even golf course ponds. As apex predators and ecosystem engineers, they play a crucial role as keystone species in their native habitats.

Masters of the Hunt and Camouflage

Alligators are masterful hunters and ambush their prey, usually at night. Silent and patient, they often remain submerged and motionless in the water until prey approaches. With their dark skin and small “scutes” (bony outer scales), alligators easily camouflage with their surroundings. They also have unique integumentary sensory organs (ISOs) around their mouths. These ISOs are incredibly sensitive and allow alligators to detect even the tiniest disturbance in the water, signaling that prey may be nearby. As demonstrated in the video, alligators can detect even the smallest environmental change, enabling them to target and strike at prey with speed and precision. Although the “prey” in the video turned out to be a stick, it serves as an excellent example of their remarkable skill and ambush abilities.

How Dangerous Are Alligators?

After watching this video, hopefully, you’ll steer clear of alligators. These large reptiles have thick skin, powerful jaws lined with sharp teeth, and massive bodies that reach lengths of 10 to 15 feet.

Fortunately, alligators are inherently non-aggressive toward humans. In fact, they tend to retreat and hide if a person gets too close. However, alligators are also defensive animals and will readily attack if they perceive a threat or if food is present.

Most alligator attacks happen in water rather than on land. Alligators can also quickly become accustomed to the presence of humans, especially when food is involved. So, it’s absolutely crucial to give them plenty of space and avoid any body of water where alligators are known to hang out.