MELISSA FARLOW_05842_110250-2.JPG
A submerged alligator is only visible with his armored back poking above placid waters as he hunts on the muddy bottom of the Okefenokee Swamp. The reptiles skin has embedded bony plates called osteoderms or scutes.
Alligator populations are considered to have recovered from overharvesting pressures through supplemental farming practices and protections placed on wild animals. However, the species is still federally listed as threatened because it looks like the American crocodile, which is endangered.
- Copyright
- MELISSA FARLOW
- Image Size
- 6510x4394 / 22.0MB
- Keywords
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alligator mississippiensis, alligators, american alligators, animal theme, animals, color image, crocodilians, day, front view, full length, georgia, georgia (united states), getty, high angle views, high angle view, image collection book, image composition, image setting, image type, national wildlife refuges (okefenokee swamp), no people, north america, number of animals, number of people, okefenokee national wildlife refuge, okefenokee swamp (georgia), one animal, outdoors, photography, reptiles, saint marys river, southern states, united states, usa, wild animals
- Contained in galleries
- Okefenokee USA_National Geographic magazine_4/1992

