Sound on for the dulcet tones of the American alligator. Alligators are territorial, so they need to let other alligators know they are not to be messed with. When they bellow, they're sharing more information than just their irritation. They're letting potential rivals or mates know how big and bad they are. Video: an alligator arches its head and tail out of the water while making a loud deep rumble underwater. By Laura Bonneau/USFWS at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. | U.S. Fish and Wildlif

Alligator bellowing is one of our favorite sounds! 🔈 Male alligators actually make a subaudible sound beforehand that causes the water to bounce on his back, called the "water dance", which you can clearly see in this video. Bellowing gives information about an alligator's location as well as size. This is helpful for females to find suitable males, usually selecting males that are larger than them. #napleszoo #alligator | Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens