into their lungs and releasing it in a deep roar. The sound they Research of Kiawah Island’s Alligators
make is at a very low frequency, called infrasound, and these
In January 2015 Professor Lou Guillette gave a talk
sound waves can cause the water immediately around the
on alligators at a meeting cosponsored by the Kiawah
animal to “dance.” When they are bellowing, we may see them Conservancy and the Kiawah Island Naturalist Group. Not
with their backs arched, their head and tail in the air.
only was the talk fascinating, but it was immediately apparent
Once a mate is chosen, the pair may swim together, touch
that he and his research group could shed important light on
noses, and blow bubbles in the water. Some recent research has the alligator population on Kiawah, about which relatively
found that alligators are loyal to their mates, with a majority of little was known. We asked if he would be interested in
females mating with the same male over many years.
pursuing studies here, and what follows is taken from
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