Dominance + parental care in crocodil/ians

Dominance hierarchy: size based ranks

• Overall hierarchy, absolute linear - fixed; sometimes despotic if there is a larger member

• Largest, strongest crocodile → gender plays no part in dominance here

  • Age and size matter, size > age

Showing dominance: loud bellows (deep sounds made by crocodilians), aggressive posture or bluffing (agnostic behaviors → appearing bigger, threatening with open jaws), slapping water (making themselves look like a threat)

• Fights aren’t a common occurrence (mostly avoided with bluffing if signals are not respected)

  • Head slapping and physical aggression; common dominance signals

Population density can affect the strength + consistency in a hierarchy

EXTENDED MATERNAL CARE: one of the most advanced parental care types

• Nest building, nest guarding, post hatch care

  • American alligator provides protection both before and after the hatch

American alligators build mound nests → heat from decomposition incubates the eggs and nest location is specific to protect from risk of floods

• Stays close and protects the nest for up to or around two months

• Attacks when necessary

When the egg is ready to hatch, the alligator rolls the eggs in her mouth

• Carefully handles them to prevent damage

• Brought to the water

Once hatched, newborns are guarded up to months

• Newborns learn to hunt and eat and find food on their own; the mother doesn’t feed them directly, but protects them regardless

Males are mostly absent, majority of the raising is done by females