Investigating the Living World through Science & Art
T. Rex or Alligator?
PDF Printable Activities
for elementary grades
Ever wonder why Alligators look so much like dinosaurs? Turns out their similaries aren't just skin deep! Through these inquiry-based worksheets, students will investigate the similarities between a T.Rex brain and the brain of an American Alligator.
Mighty Mike
The American Alligator
An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. The two living species are the American alligator (A. mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator (A. sinensis). Alligators first appeared during the Oligocene epoch about 37 million years ago. The name "alligator" is an anglicized form of el lagarto, the Spanish term for "the lizard," which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator. A typical adult American alligator's weight and length is 790 pounds and 13 feet, but Mighty Mike at the Newport Aquarium is even bigger!
Learn all about Mike and the biology of alligators using the materials below!
Mighty Mike:
The American Alligator
Illustrated Storybook
for Pre-K learners
Little Gabby the fish learns how her Gambusia family helps take care of Alligator teeth. Click on the picture to scroll through her story, or contact the WAVE Foundation to order your own printed copy of the book today!
Ask a Biologist!
8-minute Video focused on Mighty Mike's Anatomy
In this short and fun video, learn about Mighty Mike's anatomy straight from his biologist, Ric Urban.
Get an up-close and personal look at Mike in his Newport Aquarium environment, and learn about his ears, eyes, and brain.
