American Alligator: Reproduction

Reproduce in the spring
Start breeding at 8-10 years old
The male attracts his mate by bellowing to his "water dance"
The males perform a "water dance" by keeping their head and tail above water while their mid section is slightly submerged
As the male makes a bellowing noise his scales vibrate forcing the water to sprinkle around him
The females find vegetation, sticks, leaves, and mud to build nest to lay their 20-50 large eggs
The temperature of the eggs determine the gender of the offspring
The mother stands by her eggs for the 65 day incubation period
When the young are ready to hatch they make a croaking noise, and their mother will dig them out of the nest
When the young are hatched they have yellow bands around their bodies and survive off of yolk masses in their stomachs for the first couple days
A baby alligator only stays with its mother for about five months before living on its own

American Alligator