Chad Baker/Jason Reed/Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images. A person who has trained can hold his breath for 20 minutes compared to the average person who can only hold his breath for 1 minute. How Do the Bottlenose Dolphin's Adaptations Help It Survive? The speed at which an alligator swims, like the majority ectotherms, is significantly affected by temperature. Essentially, alligators eat what they can swallow by gulping it down in entirety or ripping it into chunks. The effort necessary to prey on manatees isn’t worth it. http://kids.discovery.com/tell-me/curiosity-corner/animals/are-alligators-really-dinosaurs, Mother Nature Network If you ever happen to be in one of these settings, stay as far away from them as possible. It will use its legs to paddle only when the temperature is colder. Empower Her. What Is the Difference Between an Alligator and a Crocodile? What Kind of Special Skills Does the Polar Bear Have? Although they're even faster in water, they can sometimes be pretty fast on land, too. What Is Unusual About the Lake Nicaragua Shark? Never go near an alligator you see in the wild, even if he appears to just be in the water. Wiki User Answered . Their lack of movement in the water often helps them, however, in that it allows them to remain more inconspicuous to prey. According to researchers from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, it is not unusual to see alligators occasionally venture out into salt waters in search of food, but they are not equipped to venture far and are usually spotted along the shoreline. In the Duke University study, the researchers discovered that alligators swim much faster when completely submerged using only the tail to propel them through the water and swim the slowest when they are above water using their legs as paddles. When alligators are in the water, they sometimes can go as speedily as a maximum of 20 mph or so. Want to spend some time seeing and swimming with manatees? FL 34429 USA, Phone: (352) 571–1888 The largest of the species (both males and females) defend prime territory; smaller alligators have a higher tolerance for other alligators within a similar size class. Alligators are cold-blooded, so they aren’t able to get worked up and motivated to chase a mammal as large as a manatee. Alligators prefer fresh water such as that found in lakes, swamps, and rivers, but can be found in brackish waters and even salt water for short periods. Read Reviews | Write a Review, 654 Fort Island Trail In fact, when manatees want to move through an area, they will swim right up to the alligator and bump or nudge it to move. Do Alligators Swim Faster in Water or Run Faster on Land. How do alligators swim? Asked by Wiki User. Attacks by alligators are very rare, and boat strikes still remain the prime cause of death among adult manatees. Once they have identified their prey and are ready to capture it, they have a special flap in the back of their throat called a palatal valve that closes to keep water out of the throat, lungs, and stomach while they clamp down on their prey. So it is almost impossible for alligators to clamp onto the hides of manatees and rip anything loose except maybe the tail. Top Answer. American Alligators Answer. A Geographical Look at Crocodilians. In some instances, it will float on top of the water, tuck its feet by its side, and use oscillatory motions of the tail to propel itself forward. How the alligator is able to “hold its breath” underwater for long periods of time and survive has been described in a report of research conducted at UCSD http://www.esf.edu/EFB/turner/publication%20pdfs/Burst%20swimming%20of%20alligators.pdf, San Diego Zoo How Long Can African Clawed Frogs Stay Underwater? Alligators are a bit more clumsy on dry land. There are many things you may encounter when swimming in the ocean. Although they're not particularly nimble or graceful on terra firma, they can sprint. One notable exception was the alligator that the researchers discovered 20 miles out to sea while on a whale watch expedition.