RE: tossing prey

[grenard <grenard@herpmed.com>]

It has been my observation that alligators toss prey that
may be too small to conveniently position and the tossing
process seems to permit the animal to reposition it within
its jaws.  Although the observation I mentioned earlier about
alligators seen doing this with snakes which may have attacked
them is valid, it is probably also true that if they attack back,
they intend to kill & eat the attacker and not just play frisbee
with it. This would, indeed, be a good way of getting a "handle" on
a small or odd-shaped item of potential prey. 

Steve Grenard
grenard@herpmed.com

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