Perfectly adapted to its swampy world, the top of an alligator’s head is flat, armored, and built for stealth. Its eyes, ears, and nostrils are all positioned on top, allowing the gator to see, hear, and breathe while the rest of its body remains hidden just below the water’s surface. The skin is rough and ridged, dotted with bony plates that offer protection and help regulate body temperature. Tiny pits near the snout detect vibrations and movement in the water, giving the alligator an almost sixth sense for approaching prey. In this image, I went very tight on the head and eyes from directly above the gator. Shot in Big Pine Key in the Florida Keys. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/400th of a second.
I love up close photos like this one. When I taught 3rd grade, I would use them for students to guess what animal it was. Since it was just for fun, they were all engaged.
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Perfectly adapted to its swampy world, the top of an alligator’s head is flat, armored, and built for stealth. Its eyes, ears, and nostrils are all positioned on top, allowing the gator to see, hear, and breathe while the rest of its body remains hidden just below the water’s surface. The skin is rough and ridged, dotted with bony plates that offer protection and help regulate body temperature. Tiny pits near the snout detect vibrations and movement in the water, giving the alligator an almost sixth sense for approaching prey. In this image, I went very tight on the head and eyes from directly above the gator. Shot in Big Pine Key in the Florida Keys. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/400th of a second.
I certainly hope this is either a trick photo or a dead alligator! You should NEVER be that close! They’re dangerous!
I love up close photos like this one. When I taught 3rd grade, I would use them for students to guess what animal it was. Since it was just for fun, they were all engaged.