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The American alligator, a sizable crocodilian, boasts an armored body, stout legs, a robust tail, and an elongated, rounded snout. This reptile, once on the brink of extinction, is now hailed as a conservation success story.

Welcome to the Tybee Island Marine Science Center Podcast! We record our episodes on-location at the center, located at 37 Meddin Drive, Tybee Island, Georgia.

The American alligator is native to the United States, with a habitat that stretches from North Carolina to the Rio Grande in Texas. These reptiles are commonly found in freshwater settings such as slow-moving rivers, swamps, marshes, and lakes. Due to the absence of salt glands, they can only tolerate saltwater for brief periods.

In the wild, American alligators have a lifespan of about 50 years. Once they reach a length of 4 feet, they are generally safe from predators, with the exception of humans and sometimes other alligators.

Alligators are carnivores with powerful jaws capable of breaking a turtle's shell. Their diet consists of fish, snails, other invertebrates, birds, frogs, and mammals near the water's edge. They employ their sharp teeth to grasp and secure their prey, swallowing smaller prey whole. For larger prey, they dismember it into smaller pieces by shaking, or if it's very large, they bite and spin to tear off pieces that are easier to swallow.

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Did you know that sharks have some famous relatives? Yes - they do! The skates and rays are often left with little recognition while sharks get a lot of the spotlight. But today, we are shining a light on all three.

Welcome to the Tybee Island Marine Science Center Podcast! We record our episodes on-location at the center, located at 37 Meddin Drive, Tybee Island, Georgia.

On this episode, Environmental Educator Meredith Northcott is teaching us about sharks, skates and rays. Believe it, or not - they are all closely related. They are all also species of cartilaginous fish - which basically means they have NO bones in their bodies. Their entire skeleton is made out of cartilage.

While sharks have a body shape similar to other fish, most skates and rays feature flattened, wing-like bodies that enable them to glide smoothly through the water. Although they are frequently confused with each other, subtle distinctions in their body shapes can help tell them apart. Skates have a pronounced rostrum, or a pointed snout-like structure, which gives their body an elongated triangular appearance. Typically, their bodies are more rounded, and they sport a dorsal fin at the end of their tails. Rays, in contrast, often have a diamond-shaped body with distinctly wing-like pectoral fins. The manta ray, with its remarkable 30-foot wingspan, moves through the water with a grace that seems almost supernatural.

Learn more about the voices and topics in this episode:

Learn more about Sharks, Skates and Rays

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What's happening at Tybee Island Marine Science Center

Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media

Resources:

Plan your visit to Tybee Island Marine Science Center

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Partnership and Donation Opportunities