are alligators faster than humans
Since alligators are semiaquatic reptiles, it's imperative for them to always be in the vicinity of water, whether wetlands, lakes or rivers. If you ever happen to be in one of these settings, stay as far away from them as possible. Although they're even faster in water, they can sometimes be pretty fast on land, too. The fact is: alligators can be dangerous. An alligator’s brain weighs only eight or nine grams; it would take up only one-half of a tablespoon. This lack of brainpower means there is no such thing as a “nice alligator.” If it’s hungry, an alligator will eat anything that moves, including humans. Danger and scariness aside, alligators are amazing animals. More importantly, gaining on prey via a long sprint is not the alligator's attack tactic. The alligator prefers to sneak up on its prey in the water. It's a much faster swimmer than runner -- it can swim 20 miles per hour (32 kph) [source: San Diego Zoo]. And it's silent as it moves through water. --Fight for your life:If you do find yourself in a situation where you have been attacked, don’t give up, Mazzotti said. Fight for your life. An alligator is typically looking for some easy eats, not a struggle. Moreover, there's this: An alligator typically bites and releases or bites and readjusts. In this order, there are 23 different species, including the American alligator, Caimans and a variety of crocodiles. — The basic Crocodylia body form has been around for more than 180 million years, making alligators and crocodiles living dinosaurs. Faster in the Water. Alligators don't have much endurance on land because of their short limbs. When alligators are at their swiftest on land, they can go as rapidly as 11 mph. This still can't measure up to their water swimming speed, however. When alligators are in the water, they sometimes can go as speedily as a maximum of 20 mph or so. It's possible that some small alligators might get as high as 25 mph for a short burst, but large alligators generally can't get above 7-8 mph. Of course it takes time for a person to get up to speed, and it's quite possible that if an alligator takes a human by surprise, the human might not be able to escape. Two, it implies that alligators can run faster than humans -- at least when they're running in a straight line. The truth is, although alligators are frighteningly quick, they're not cheetah fast and they don't like to run long distances. It's very rare for an alligator to chase a human on dry land. Animals vs. Humans with 30+ answers. A reasonably athletic human (28 mph) can outrun a large alligator (25 mph) on land. Alligators are sprinters that never hunt far from water. They rely on surprise to capture prey. An alligator would really only land-chase a person who disturbed their nest, and then, not for very long. Males can actually get much larger. A 1,000-pound alligator is not unusual. — While there are reports of one alligator, held in captivity, that lived to be more than 100 years old, something like 40 years might be a more typical lifespan for alligators living in the wild.
Yes, when they're running in a straight line.