The Alligator's Life History [Paperback]

E.A. Mcilhenny (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0898152305 | ISBN-13: 978-0898152302 | Publication Date: August 1, 1987 | Edition: First edition.

Publisher: Boston, The Christopher publishing house Subjects: Alligators Notes: This is an OCR reprint. There may be typos or missing text. There are no illustrations or indexes. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. You can also preview the book there.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press; First edition. edition (August 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898152305
• ISBN-13: 978-0898152302
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #692,676 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #74 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > Reptiles

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Personal Observations, June 5, 2004

By 

Acute Observer (By the Shore NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alligator's Life History (Facsimile reprints in herpetology) (Hardcover)

The author was born and lived on Avery Island, Louisiana, a place with an abundance of alligators. He has observed them all his life. This book tells of his experiences. The Spanish settler on the Gulf Coast called them "el largato" (lizard), and this was changed by English settlers to "alligator". Chapter 1 provides a physical description of these reptiles, and the enormous power of their jaws. The author contrasts his observations to published information (pp. 20-23). Chapter 2 tells about the habitat of alligators. They dig holes underwater for safety, and to spend the cold winter months. This makes the grass around it greener. Alligators can make trails between water holes, and often travel locally. Alligators mostly feed during warm weather, April to October (Chapter 3). They feed on every living thing they can catch. The extermination of alligators led to a great increase in garfish, muskrats, ducks, water snakes, and turtles. Deer and dogs can be killed when they drink from water; cattle when they walk through marshes. Hogs can not be raised anywhere near alligators.

Chapter 4 tells of their rates of growth, and size. Hunting alligators for their hides has destroyed large numbers. New teeth form inside old teeth and replace them (Chapter 5). Full grown alligators have teeth that are almost solid. Chapter 6 describes the limited vocal ability of alligators. Except for man, alligators have no enemies once they grow to about 3 to 4 feet long (Chapter 7). The author explains why they have acute hearing and sight (p.85). Protecting alligators resulted in destroying great numbers of muskrats (p.86).

Chapter 8 tells of the variations in size and location of alligator nests. Fully grown females will often use the same location year after year. The author describes his observations of nest building. The flesh of the tail of young alligators is excellent (p.90), resembling meat rather than fish. Chapter 9 describes the incubation and growth of baby alligators. Alligator eggs take about 63 days to hatch, longer in cooler weather. Grass or leaves of other organic matter give off heat as they decompose. Page 113 explains why alligators grow much more rapidly in the wild where the food supply is unlimited. This chapter ends with a plea to protect alligators so their number can be increased to where it was in the late 19th century. [To what end?]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have, June 10, 2000

By 

William G. Moss III - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alligator's Life History (Facsimile reprints in herpetology) (Hardcover)

If you're interested in the natural History of the American Alligator, this book is a must have! Although written in 1935, experts agree that with only a few exceptions, the information is still as viable today as it was the day it was written.

McIlhenny (as in McIlhenny Tabasco) grew up observing and documenting alligator behavior, growth rates, diets, breeding and nesting behavior are all documented in this easy reading book.

If you've got an interest, buy it, you won't be disappointed.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Life History Book., February 19, 2011

By 

Robert L. King Jr. "[e-mail]" (Portland Maine) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Alligator's Life History (Paperback)

As a wildlife biologist I have read a lot of life history books. I love 'em because I love nature. Hands down.....this is the most fascinating life history book I have read. Could not put it down until I finished it. Then went through it again within a few days.........and I am a slow reader. I know that all alligator biologists and alligator researchers know about this one and have it on their shelf......or will be reluctant to admit that they don't.