Brandon
Brown
Bio Summative
Chinese Alligator
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The Chinese Alligator is quite an interesting species with a clear dislike for the rigorous tempters below 10° C. As a result, this species becomes dormant during the winter by a complex housing system consisting of a burrow construction on banks of wet lands. This allows them to hibernate at a temperature no lower than 10° C. As spring comes around, this species performs an interesting task in which they raise their body temperature by basking in the sun. Once their body reaches the right internal temperature they become nocturnal.
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Listed as a class one endangered species, the Chinese Alligator has seen a decrease in over 80% of its population. In fact, the decrease in this species and others had gotten so bad that breeding centers were open up; the largest being, the Anhui Research Center for Chinese Alligator Reproduction (ARCCAR), was founded in 1979, and stocked with over 200 alligators collected from the wild over the following decade - crocodilian.com. In return, China has declared ponds and rivers where this species are found as protected reserves - Yangtze River, Jiangau, Zhejiang and other ponds and rivers found in Xuancheng and southern part of Anhui Province. They along with Changxing Nature Reserve and Breeding Center for Chinese Alligators, and the Bronx Zoo (New York) have been able to increase the number of Chinese Alligators to 10,000 being held in captivity; due to the large amount of pollution, exterminations, and destruction of their habitat for farm lands. Nevertheless, the council of China has helped to restore and protect alligator habitats.
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Reaching sexual maturity by the age of 4-5 years of age, Chinese Alligators begin sexually reproduction during the summer when their habitat is becomes warm, allowing them to be active at night. I has been theorized that females and males make bellowing mating sounds when they are ready to mate and remain immobile during this time as they strive to be in sync with one another. I has been theorized that they do this as a way of coming together in the same waters, rather than for the purpose of competition. Although this cannot be proven - as there is no was to ask the alligators - observational studies conducted by Xianyan Wang (Institute of Hydrobiology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences) Ding Wanga (Institute of Hydrobiology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences) and Renping Wang (Anhui Research Center for the Chinese Alligator Reproduction in Xuancheng) assume such theories to be true. They come together, males impregnate one female per season, which may bare 20-30 eggs.
Human Impact on Chinese Alligator
Similar to that of the Black Caiman, Chinese alligators were hunted extremely as a source of food. This species is interesting as it cannot be hunted for hide, due to its bone structure intertwined within its skin. But yet, humans discovered that it could be hunted as a source of food and is still a main item in the marketplace of China today. Historically, humans used parts of Chinese alligators for alternative medicine, especially to treat diseases in the gallbladder. Today they are no longer needed as a source of medicine and have been protected by law from ruthless hunting. In the wild there numbers have decreased substantially as most are raised in captivity, such as zoos. As most of their native land has been lost due to farming; which in reality is one of the best things that have happened to them, as most suffered from the air pollution and extermination.Breeding centers in China not only raise the population of Chinese alligators, but they also fuel the market with alligator meat.
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Kingdom:Animalia
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Phylum:Chordata
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Class:Reptilia
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Order:Crocodilia
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Family:Alligatoridae
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Genus:Alligator
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Species:A. sinensis