During a recent cold spell in Beaumont, Texas, where temperatures dropped to 18 degrees Fahrenheit, alligators were discovered frozen underwater while still alive. A widely circulated TikTok video showed an alligator submerged in frozen water with only its snout protruding through the ice.
The TikTok user eddiehanhart123, who shared the video, explained that the American alligator anticipated the freezing conditions and strategically exposed its nose above the water, allowing the ice to freeze around it.
@eddiehanhart123 The amarican alliagtor is absolutely magnificent!! @Gator Country TX #americanalligator #gatorcountrybmt ♬ original sound - eddie h
A Cold Blast Sweeping in the US
A historic Arctic cold wave is sweeping through the United States, bringing record-breaking cold temperatures and severe weather conditions. The northern Plains, especially Montana, experienced exceptionally cold temperatures, with Chester, Montana, reaching a staggering minus 54 degrees, making it the coldest spot in the nation.
Football fans in Kansas City, Missouri, faced negative-degree wind chills as they watched the Kansas City Chiefs game. Wind chill alerts are in effect across two dozen states, with Kansas City experiencing its coldest wind chill since 1989, dropping to minus 35 degrees.
Chicago is grappling with blowing snow and life-threatening cold, while Iowa is under wind chill warnings as it prepares for the upcoming caucuses. Des Moines could feel as cold as minus 35 degrees on Monday morning.
The frigid conditions are expected to persist in the southern Plains, impacting cities like Dallas, Nashville, and Little Rock, Arkansas. In the Northeast, heavy snow and whiteout conditions are hitting Buffalo, New York, leading to travel bans issued by Governor Kathy Hochul.
Simultaneously, a new storm is anticipated to bring snow and icy conditions to the South. Texas, including Dallas and Austin, may face light freezing rain or freezing drizzle, creating hazardous road conditions. Little Rock and Nashville are forecasted to receive snow, with Memphis expecting 3 to 5 inches of snow. The extreme winter weather is causing widespread disruptions and posing significant challenges across multiple regions.
READ ALSO: Hibernation Explained: Vital for Some Species, but Not Humans
Frozen Alligators: How Do They Survive the Extreme Cold?
The cold snap in North Carolina and Texas pushed alligators to adopt a survival strategy by positioning their bodies in pond water, allowing it to freeze around them. Only their snouts and front teeth protrude through the ice, enabling them to breathe while waiting for the ice to thaw. This behavior, while unusual to observers, is a normal adaptation for alligators facing cold temperatures.
To endure wintry conditions, alligators enter a state akin to hibernation called brumation. Reptiles, dependent on external heat sources for temperature regulation, use brumation to survive cold environments. As long as their nostrils stay above water, alligators can endure these conditions, ensuring their survival.
During brumation, the alligators' metabolism decreases, and their body temperature lowers. Unlike true hibernation, alligators may periodically emerge and move on warmer days.
When confronted with freezing water, alligators instinctively tilt their noses upward, preventing suffocation. As ice crystals form, their metabolism slows, and their lethargic bodies become suspended in the frozen water, eyes closed.
Unlike hibernating mammals, reptiles in brumation maintain some activity and can drink. During brumation, an alligator's heart rate may decrease to as few as three beats per minute, showcasing their remarkable survival adaptations.
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