Last weeks frigid temperature levels, plummeting to a low of 18 degrees Fahrenheit, led to an astonishing natural phenomenon: alligators frozen undersea, yet still extremely much alive. Alligators are cold-blooded (ectothermic) creatures that have to rely on external sources of heat to control their body temperature. TikTok user eddiehanhart123 was trekking around Beaumont when he saw the sight of a lifetime: a little hole in the ice with an alligators snout protruding. When the water bodies they inhabit start to freeze, alligators get in a state called brumation– a reptilian version of hibernation.
What takes place when the weather turns truly bad and reaches freezing temperature levels? It seems like the alligators do not stand a possibility– however thats not the case at all.
Credit: David Arbour/Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Preservation.
Alligators are cold-blooded (ectothermic) animals that need to count on external sources of heat to manage their body temperature. This is why youll often see these reptiles motionlessly indulging in the sun. On cooler days, alligators may look for shallow waters which warm up quicker than much deeper areas.
When the water bodies they live in start to freeze, alligators go into a state called brumation– a reptilian version of hibernation. This is whats taking place to this alligator.
In Texas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department keeps in mind that alligators generally get in brumation from mid-October until March. If youre in the location, look out for snouts sticking out of ice holes over the coming months.
During warmer days, these ectothermic creatures will temporarily emerge from their frozen state to indulge in the sun, reactivating their metabolic process. This is the main difference between brumation and the deeper sleep of hibernation in which animals are incapacitated for prolonged periods.
In the heart of Beaumont, Texas, a recent cold wave has revealed a remarkable survival technique of the American alligator. Last weeks freezing temperature levels, plunging to a low of 18 degrees Fahrenheit, caused an impressive natural phenomenon: alligators frozen undersea, yet still really much alive. Heres how they pull it off.
Recently, a cold spell swept throughout the southern United States, freezing numerous lakes and waterways. TikTok user eddiehanhart123 was travelling around Beaumont when he noticed the sight of a lifetime: a small hole in the ice with an alligators snout extending. He caught all of it in a video, which soon went viral.
As the surface of the water starts to freeze, they stick their snouts out, producing a natural snorkel. This behavior guarantees that they can breathe even when encased in ice. Its an exceptional adjustment that underscores the alligators durability. So as long as these reptiles can keep their snouts above water, they can quickly survive freezing temperatures regardless of being cold-blooded.
