Promoted
American Alligator or Alligator mississippienis
The spots around the lips of the American alligator mouth and lips are sensory organs called integumentary sensory organs (ISOs). Each one is a highly sensitive dome-shaped pressure receptor. Crocodiles also have ISOs, but theirs are all over their bodies, while alligators have them mainly around the mouth.
They help the alligator detect changes in water pressure and vibrations, which is useful for hunting in murky water. They’re so sensitive that they can detect tiny ripples caused by prey moving nearby. They may also aid in detecting touch and texture when handling objects or prey.
The American alligator, sometimes referred to as a gator, or common alligator is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States and a small section of northeastern Mexico. It is one of the two extant species in the genus "Alligator", and is larger than the only other living alligator species, the Chinese alligator.
