Alligators are some of the best parents in the reptile world. Mothers guard their nests and help the eggs hatch. And sometimes both parents look after and protect the young.
A female alligator builds a nest on the ground. She uses her mouth to gather plants. She uses her feet and tail to push the plants and soil into a large mound, or pile, about 3 feet (0.9 meter) high and 7 feet (2.1 meters) wide. Then she lays her eggs in a hollow at the top of the mound nest and covers them up.
Alligators do not warm their eggs by sitting on them. They let the nest warm the eggs. As plants in the nest decay, they give off heat. This warms the eggs.
Even though a mother alligator does not sit on her eggs, she is always nearby. She guards the nest to keep away egg-eating animals, other alligators, and people.
More about alligators.
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