Nature World Today

Nature's Best Site

Alligators Hunt and Eat Sharks, Study Reports

by 45 Comments

Researchers from Kansas State University have found that American alligators are hunting sharks that venture out into freshwater, according to a new study published in Southeastern Naturalist. The team made this discovery by analyzing the stomach contents of 500 living alligators. They found that the reptiles had feasted on four different shark species, including both nurse sharks and stingrays.

This discovery is interesting because alligators swim in freshwater, while sharks and their relatives live in saltwater. However, as the stomach contents reveal, there are times where the two predators overlap. 

Though alligators do not have the glands needed to properly filter saltwater, they have been known to travel into oceanic regions to hunt when salt levels become diluted after events like heavy rainfall. In addition, scientists have noted many instances where sharks have moved into rivers and deltas.

Editorial content

“Alligators seek out freshwater in high-salinity environments,” explained lead author James Nifong, a researcher at Kansas State University, according to Newsweek. “When it rains really hard, they can actually sip fresh water off the surface of the saltwater. That can prolong the time they can stay in a saltwater environment.”

Despite the results of the study, the team states that alligators do not always win battles with sharks. Rather, the team believes the two species engage in what is known as “reciprocal predation,” where they hunt each other at different times. Then, body size typically determines if the alligator or shark comes out with a meal.

The study shows the shift in certain ecosystems and could help researchers better understand the dynamics that come about as alligators and sharks move closer to each other.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 917310 829746Its a shame you dont have a donate button! Id most definitely donate to this outstanding internet website! I suppose inside the meantime ill be happy with bookmarking and putting your Rss feed to my Google account. I appear forward to fresh updates and will share this weblog with my Facebook group: ) 799819

  3. 666558 698170A very informationrmative post and lots of actually honest and forthright comments produced! This surely got me thinking a great deal about this concern so cheers a whole lot for dropping! 283192

  5. 946651 623279Sounds like some thing a great deal of baby boomers should study. The feelings of neglect are there in many levels when a single is over the hill. 565046

  7. 696592 831760Oh my goodness! an wonderful write-up dude. Many thanks Even so My business is experiencing trouble with ur rss . Do not know why Struggle to sign up to it. Can there be everybody obtaining identical rss dilemma? Anyone who knows kindly respond. Thnkx 433618

  9. 505479 227069Just a smiling visitor here to share the really like (:, btw outstanding design . “Audacity, a lot more audacity and always audacity.” by Georges Jacques Danton. 157085

  10. 729492 898096Sorry for the huge review, but Im genuinely loving the new Zune, and hope this, as properly as the superb reviews some other men and women have written, will aid you decide if it is the right choice for you. 543365

  14. 382871 818778Superb editorial! Would like took pleasure the specific following. Im hoping to learn to read a lot a lot more of you. Theres no doubt which you possess tremendous awareness and even imagination. I happen to be extremely highly fascinated using this critical details. 83617

  24. 780 92685Intending start up a enterprise about the internet involves revealing marketing plus items not only to ladies locally, but somehow to several buyers who are web-based as a rule. e-learning 723971

  25. 863858 660645This post is really appealing to thinking people like me. It is not only thought-provoking, it draws you in from the beginning. This is well-written content. The views here are also appealing to me. Thank you. 285971

  29. 159062 468857Aw, this was a very nice post. In thought I want to put in writing like this moreover ?taking time and actual effort to make a very excellent post?nevertheless what can I say?I procrastinate alot and certainly not appear to get one thing done. 42381

  32. 516529 831185hi!,I like your writing so much! share we keep up a correspondence extra approximately your post on AOL? I call for a specialist on this space to solve my issue. May be that is you! Searching ahead to peer you. 257065

  34. 771990 152844Hi there, just became aware of your blog via Google, and found that it is really informative. Im gonna watch out for brussels. Ill be grateful if you continue this in future. Several individuals is going to be benefited from your writing. Cheers! 998705

  36. 419715 149205This design is incredible! You definitely know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own weblog (nicely, almostHaHa!) Great job. I truly loved what you had to say, and much more than that, how you presented it. Too cool! 609608

  37. 704419 972678Your home is valueble for me. Thanks!? This internet page is truly a walk-via for all of the information you required about this and didn know who to ask. Glimpse right here, and you l undoubtedly uncover it. 561457

  39. 817464 913898Hey! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against hackers? Im kinda paranoid about losing everything Ive worked hard on. Any recommendations? 289423

  40. 388710 23300Exceptional read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he in fact bought me lunch because I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that. 473587

  42. 84732 843126OK first take a great look at your self. What do you like what do you not like so a lot. Work on that which you do not like. But do not listen to other men and women their opinions do not matter only yours does. Function on having the attitude that this really is who you are and if they dont like it they can go to hell. 558668

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.