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GATORS IN CAJUN SWAMP

Yes, there are alligators in Louisiana.  Also, Creoles, Cajuns and Acadians.  How are alligators different from crocodiles?

  •  Snout and jawline shape,
  • Alligators have a wider, or U-shaped snout, while crocodiles are V-shaped.
  • When looking at an alligator, only the top teeth are visible.  Both up and down can be seen when crocodiles close their mouth,

  • Crocodiles can grow to 19 feet long.  Alligators only to 14 feet.  In fact, according to Google AI:
Saltwater crocodiles are significantly larger than any alligator species. Saltwater crocodiles can reach lengths of over 20–23 feet and weigh over 2,000 lbs, while the largest American alligators rarely exceed 15–17 feet and weigh closer to 1,000 lbs
  • Crocodiles are lighter in color, sort of light tan or olive, compared to the black and gray alligators.
  • Alligators are relatively more timid, and will mostly try to escape rather than attack.  But will strike back if provoked or while defending their young.  Crocodiles are bad-tempered and more likely to attack humans.  The most dangerous ones are on the Nile River and Australian saltwater crocodiles.  American crocodiles, however, rarely attack,
  • Where they can be found:
  • In the U.S., there are 3 million alligators and only 2000 crocodiles.
  • Two species that were humongous.
    • The earliest was Sarcosuchus, or SuperCroc, growing to around 30 feet in Africa and South America around 112 million years ago, or maybe as far back as 133 million.
    • Deinosuchus lived around 80 million years ago in North America, and grew to 33 feet long.  With that name, scientists referred to this Terrible Crocodile as an alligatoroid.
    • Who would win in a hypothetical fight?  First of all, this did not ever happen becaue Deinosuchus came tens of million years after Sarcosuchus. Really want to know?  Watch this video.
  • Crocodiles date back to around 140 million years, and survived the Great Extinction event of 66 million years BC when all the dinosaurs expired.  Alligators came later, maybe 37 million years ago.
So off we went to see alligators and other critters.
Took around 25 minutes to get to Cajun Pride Swamp.
And a few photos.
While alligators were jumping about, I leaned over to take a photo, and noticed that my right elbow was hanging outside the boat...only a couple feet away from this gator.  Whew, that was too close.  Those jumping ones were only a few feet in length.  My alligator was at least 10 feet long.
Blue and Green Dragonflies.
I should have started with this bit of news, but by now you of course know that the Iran War is over, at least for two  or three weeks.  So President Trump was bluffing to secure the best deal possible.  Every time he does this, he, his family and cronies make another pile of investment money, for they know for sure what he was planning to do.

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