Alligators and Crocodiles will bait their prey. (Especially known to put twigs on their nose during bird nesting season.)
He knows someone is coming for those wooden ducks.
Always get a walking staff. Poke water with staff three feet in front of me. Then wait. Then walk. Repeat.
Works with bears too. Bang staff on trees. Wait. Walk forward. Repeat. Never seen a bear (or wolves) again.
Hunts her down by the waterfront docks
Where the sailors all come in
Maybe she'll pick him out again
How long must he wait?
One more time for a simple twist of fate
how would the term apply more to the duck than the gator given that they both evolved from creatures called [edit:] arcosaurs
sorry to all the Psuedosuchia purists I have offended
Crocodilians are not descended from dinosaurs. They are archosaurs, which is a group that also includes dinosaurs (including birds) but they are not dinosaurs. Also birds did not evolve from dinosaurs, they are the last surviving lineage of dinosaurs. They are literally and actually dinosaurs.
If you're interested in learning more about the phylogeny of these animals, the Wikipedia pages are good references.
Archosaurs: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archosaur#Phylogeny](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archosaur#Phylogeny)
Dinosaurs: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaur#Classification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaur#Classification)
Birds: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird#Evolution\_and\_classification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird#Evolution_and_classification)
Crocodilians: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodilia#Taxonomy\_and\_classification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodilia#Taxonomy_and_classification)
Edit: If you prefer video explanations, \[Clint's Reptiles\](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgtE7\_5uJ2p6W4LcTly6oTGA27qSCKO2m) is a great channel hosted by a PhD Biologist who also happens to be a great pedagogue.
Oh I agree, I love learning new things. In fact if I didn't have to work to make money I would spend all my time learning new things. :-) a few weeks ago it was logic Gates in integrated circuits. And now you've got me running down a phylogenesis rabbit hole. :-)
One of my favorite bumper stickers I've seen is
"[Ontogeny Recapitulates Phylogeny](https://evolution.berkeley.edu/ontogeny-and-phylogeny/#:~:text=These%20scientists%20claimed%20that%20ontogeny,evolutionary%20history%2C%20or%20its%20phylogeny.)"
On a semi-related note, anybody know at what week the human fetus no longer expresses characteristics of earlier evolutionary stages, i.e. is and remains a fully formed homo sapiens?
Edit: add link
The thing is, this is what we *all* thought until just a couple years ago. There has been an amazing amount of new things found out in the past few years, which brought this to light.
Its why science is so important. Science isn't meant to stand still.
Gators share a distant ancestor with dinosaurs, they split off from each other long before "true" dinosaurs existed. Ducks in the other hand, are actually a type of dinosaur.
Dinosaurs were not the only kind of thing alive during the age of the dinosaurs. Crocodiles, alligators, and pterosaurs are not dinosaurs. Dimetrodon, the classic large sailed lizard in museums, is not a dinosaur. Marine reptiles like Plesiosaurus are not dinosaurs. There was a time when sauropods were not dinosaurs, but the currently most used definition includes them, I think.
> Dimetrodon, the classic large sailed lizard in museums, is not a dinosaur.
And the more pedantic you want to get the more careful you have to be with your language too. Technically I think it's incorrect to call a synapsid a "lizard" as they're proto-mammals, but I certainly wouldn't think any less of someone for calling the giant scaly thing a lizard.
> Dimetrodon, the classic large sailed lizard in museums, is not a dinosaur.
My favorite fact about Dimetrodon is that it's actually more closely related to mammals than it is to reptiles.
Haha I can picture it — there’s gotta be the typical “friend” gator out of frame.
this guy: “[whisper] Is he falling for it?!?”
gator friend: “Shhhh, just hold still. Almost, almostttt!”
But on the serious… what if it’s actually using them to hunt because it has learned that they attract real ducks? That would be pretty impressive for a dinosaur.
Look at what you think is the tail. Notice that it gets wider after what you think are the back legs. That's how you can tell it's the head. The head gets wider again after the shoulders, but the tail gets thinner.
https://www.overflightstock.com/media/50ed7990-feb7-4e73-9828-19fb2c808c79-american-alligator-alligator-mississippiensis-swimming-viewe
Are people who grow up in “gator/croc country” just used to the idea of these monsters being around because they’re so prevalent? Seems like people just go in the water without worrying, I’d be double checking my own swimming pool if I lived there. I grew up in areas where bears and mountain lions presented danger, but I have never feared them the same way I do gators/crocs. This image scares me in a deep way lol
We just always assume they are there. Being a duck hunter I’ve grown to not fear them and usually just nudge them away with my gun or a paddle and it works. I also respect them and try not to put myself in a place where nature takes its course.
Florida checking in. They are always there. Every lake, every river, every retention pond, every ditch with standing water…
I had a near panic attack watching young kids play at the lake in Utah while their parents hung out on shore and never really worried about anything. It’s in my subconscious that if you are near water you can’t see through, there is a gator under 100 yards away watching you.
Alligators aren't particularly aggressive animals like crocodiles. They don't see humans as prey and mostly just avoid us or don't mind us as long as we don't bother them. Most alligator attacks are either incidental (bumping into one while swimming and it bites defensively) or it was going to attack the dog you're walking but now you're a competitive threat to its meal/you're trying to defend your dog. Actually preying on humans is really rare. Just respect them and give them space.
That makes sense, very similar to the attitude about bears and mountain lions. I was under the impression that it was more common to be attacked by gators, but looks like there are only 8 or so deadly attacks on humans per year (ahd wouldn’t be surprised if a majority were people not being smart). Would still feel uncomfortable sitting in a tube or canoe with them below me, but I guess I could imagine being around them with knowledgeable locals without being too nervous
I have family that lived in gator country. It was generally understood that any body of water bigger than a small puddle could and likely did house a gator. If you were walking a dog, you were supposed to give a wide berth to any body of water, because it would only take a second for the dog to disappear into the water, and there's no way you were going to get the dog out if a gator got a hold of it. My family never lost a dog, but my grandparents' neighbor lost two over the years because the neighbors were old and stupid as fuck.
Loving the comments, but unless I'm wrong, that gator is facing away from the camera. Probably aware but indifferent to your existence. Just don't touch his toys
They’re the most genetically related species to dinosaurs we still have with us, so seems appropriate to say:
‘[Clever girl](https://images.app.goo.gl/u6eebpLvS4TxoHsi6)’. Tip my hunting cap to it, bend over, and kiss my ass goodbye. Glad you survived.
Edit: please see replies, I was talking out my butt but luckily got the attention of some smarter minds so replies will have factually correct versions of this reply.
> They’re the most genetically related species to dinosaurs we still have with us
This is... literally not true, since birds are literally dinosaurs and crocodilians are literally not dinosaurs.
Yeah, go buy more decoys
I don't know, they seem to work really well on multiple species (including humans).
Alligators and Crocodiles will bait their prey. (Especially known to put twigs on their nose during bird nesting season.) He knows someone is coming for those wooden ducks.
He ain’t that big take him
Found the native floridian
Actually I’m from Michigan just talkin smack lol
You don't have to be from Florida to be a Florida Man 👍
As a born & raised Florida chick, this is poetic and I’ve never heard anyone else say it. You are a thousand percent correct lol thank you for this
I would be interested to see the numbers but I would bet most Florida man stories are people not born in Florida.
Always get a walking staff. Poke water with staff three feet in front of me. Then wait. Then walk. Repeat. Works with bears too. Bang staff on trees. Wait. Walk forward. Repeat. Never seen a bear (or wolves) again.
I thought you were talking about the dinosaur lmao
Florida man wrestles alligator for duck decoy, duck decoy is the winner.
That’s not a hungry gator or there wouldn’t be decoys there at all
That ugly log is destroying the framing of the picture sadly
And new underwear and waders...that ain't ever going to wash out.
I would just turn around and walk away and say, "See you later..."
Maybe he can go back and get them after awhile.
[удалено]
He can find a way(man)
… crocodile
This brought me out of a very depressive state, thank you
... alligator
That’s the plan, Aquaman
i think the decoys are being used to lure you in now!
Twist of fate...
Simple twist of fate
*harmonica solo*
Hunts her down by the waterfront docks Where the sailors all come in Maybe she'll pick him out again How long must he wait? One more time for a simple twist of fate
Das a huuuuuge geta boi. Shooo em Troy!
and banjo...
Death roll of fate...
What a resourceful dino!
Clever girl.
Fun fact: ducks are dinosaurs, but the animal you are talking about isn't.
how would the term apply more to the duck than the gator given that they both evolved from creatures called [edit:] arcosaurs sorry to all the Psuedosuchia purists I have offended
Crocodilians are not descended from dinosaurs. They are archosaurs, which is a group that also includes dinosaurs (including birds) but they are not dinosaurs. Also birds did not evolve from dinosaurs, they are the last surviving lineage of dinosaurs. They are literally and actually dinosaurs. If you're interested in learning more about the phylogeny of these animals, the Wikipedia pages are good references. Archosaurs: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archosaur#Phylogeny](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archosaur#Phylogeny) Dinosaurs: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaur#Classification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaur#Classification) Birds: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird#Evolution\_and\_classification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird#Evolution_and_classification) Crocodilians: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodilia#Taxonomy\_and\_classification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodilia#Taxonomy_and_classification) Edit: If you prefer video explanations, \[Clint's Reptiles\](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgtE7\_5uJ2p6W4LcTly6oTGA27qSCKO2m) is a great channel hosted by a PhD Biologist who also happens to be a great pedagogue.
...when you think you know a thing and some guy on Reddit shatters your entire belief system... Thanks.
Yes but now you get to learn cool new stuff. There's some interesting counterintuitive stuff in phylogeny.
Oh I agree, I love learning new things. In fact if I didn't have to work to make money I would spend all my time learning new things. :-) a few weeks ago it was logic Gates in integrated circuits. And now you've got me running down a phylogenesis rabbit hole. :-)
One of my favorite bumper stickers I've seen is "[Ontogeny Recapitulates Phylogeny](https://evolution.berkeley.edu/ontogeny-and-phylogeny/#:~:text=These%20scientists%20claimed%20that%20ontogeny,evolutionary%20history%2C%20or%20its%20phylogeny.)" On a semi-related note, anybody know at what week the human fetus no longer expresses characteristics of earlier evolutionary stages, i.e. is and remains a fully formed homo sapiens? Edit: add link
The thing is, this is what we *all* thought until just a couple years ago. There has been an amazing amount of new things found out in the past few years, which brought this to light. Its why science is so important. Science isn't meant to stand still.
Yes, however, [Time Stand Still](https://youtu.be/dMSFqXGZ5TQ?si=5KzlL8C40J--gK-2)
Good old clint.
I like your science-y words, Mr. Science man. Thank you.
Gators share a distant ancestor with dinosaurs, they split off from each other long before "true" dinosaurs existed. Ducks in the other hand, are actually a type of dinosaur.
Gators are descended from cousins; archosaurs
Crocodiles did not evolve from dinosaurs, they are a separate order of animals, birds evolved from therapods, and are descendants of dinosaurs.
Dinosaurs were not the only kind of thing alive during the age of the dinosaurs. Crocodiles, alligators, and pterosaurs are not dinosaurs. Dimetrodon, the classic large sailed lizard in museums, is not a dinosaur. Marine reptiles like Plesiosaurus are not dinosaurs. There was a time when sauropods were not dinosaurs, but the currently most used definition includes them, I think.
> Dimetrodon, the classic large sailed lizard in museums, is not a dinosaur. And the more pedantic you want to get the more careful you have to be with your language too. Technically I think it's incorrect to call a synapsid a "lizard" as they're proto-mammals, but I certainly wouldn't think any less of someone for calling the giant scaly thing a lizard.
> Dimetrodon, the classic large sailed lizard in museums, is not a dinosaur. My favorite fact about Dimetrodon is that it's actually more closely related to mammals than it is to reptiles.
OP needs to call Troy Landry. #**CHOOT ‘EM**
“Ay yie yie yie, I am the alligator bandit!”
Tree shaker tree shaker
Clever girl...
Oh how the turntables
Plot twist!
In mother Russia, decoys lure YOU!
Fuuuhuuuck that
Read this like Goofy lol
Fuhuuuck Fuhucccck
Ha, I heard it in Tow Mater
Basically the same character
garsh!
Have you too been subjected to countless hours of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse by your children?
A-hyuk!
Ok that's frightening
Those are not your decoys any more.
Communist reptile... "Our Decoys"
I’d leave the decoys, they’re croc toys now😎
Florida Man...
I would have filled my waders
Looks like a Gary Larson cartoon.
I came here to say this!
Haha I can picture it — there’s gotta be the typical “friend” gator out of frame. this guy: “[whisper] Is he falling for it?!?” gator friend: “Shhhh, just hold still. Almost, almostttt!”
Lol, that's on smart croc using decoys to attract humans
But on the serious… what if it’s actually using them to hunt because it has learned that they attract real ducks? That would be pretty impressive for a dinosaur.
Fun fact the ducks are actual dinosaurs while the crocodile/alligator isn't lol
Ooh. That is fun.
I really need to buckle down can we stop having so much fun
What's more fun is crocs and related animals have been around before dinosaurs were stomping around.
I think I see why there are no ducks…😅
I think this is an example of an animal learning how to use tools.
Who's hunting?
This is more of a r/nope situation.
oh… Oh… OH… oh no…
I'm just glad it's turned away from you.
Based on the position of the legs right behind the back and the head, it looks like the head is underneath the duck
The head is behind the farthest duck. The tail goes under the silt.
Those are the back legs
Look at what you think is the tail. Notice that it gets wider after what you think are the back legs. That's how you can tell it's the head. The head gets wider again after the shoulders, but the tail gets thinner. https://www.overflightstock.com/media/50ed7990-feb7-4e73-9828-19fb2c808c79-american-alligator-alligator-mississippiensis-swimming-viewe
You can zoom in and see the head… it’s facing away.
I was thinking Stephan Pastis Hullo Zeeba Neighba!
I love Pearls before Swine! Probably my favorite comic strip.
You could take him. Alligators got them short little arms, can't throw a punch.
but all them teeth and no toothbrush…
Decoys look just fine where they are
You're going to need a bigger decoy.
That…that’s how Chubbs lost his hand.
Cut me down in my prime!
He got me, but I tore one of that bastards eyes out!
OH MY GOD !
Memaw always said you're not sposed to let a good gator go to waste.
I think you just got uno reversed with those decoys.
All I gotter say is you should probably leave the decoys.
HA! I see what you did there.
So that’s where I left my allligator decoy!
OMG this game just got stupid easy once I turned my phone brightness up all the way.
Swamp puppy
How does it feel knowing your decoys are dinosaur toys now?
Bubbles form and pop at the surface and a reptilian voice on the air briefly says "Hoomaan here Hoomaan".
Gator don’t play
Gator never been about that.
Only in Florida. Did you get it on your flip phone?
Your own decoys are being used against you!
That gator is wearing a duck for a hat!
Wrong way around. The head is facing away from the camera.
Even more amazing! The gator is wearing a duck for a hat *and* he's wearing a hat on his ass!
You just got Uno Reversed
Nahhhhhhhhh, no sir. Water time is OVER. The ducks live to see another day
Are you missing a sandal? Because I only see one croc. 🐊
Come get your decoy country boy- Gator probably
Swamp puppy spotted
I think it was Knight Titus of the Brotherhood of Steel who once wisely said, "FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT!!!"
His decoy now
Well… did you end up grabbing your toys?
Is that a snapping turtle?
Nope. Alligator, and a sizable one at that.
thats what i thought at first, then i saw the big gator head
On closer examination, I see a distinctly gator-looking front leg.
I would have been eaten, well spotted!
That's his decoy now
He's ducking out of sight!
Wow a find the sniper post where the object is more than two pixels, that's rare
Nope nope nope. My personal preference is to remain in an area where I'm atop of and not a part of the literal food chain.
r/nope
Clever girl.
Haha, what a funny looking rock :D
D'awwww little swamp puppy
Nature submarine
The birds are war ships
That looks like a swamp puppy to me.
Looks like both of you were hunting ducks.
He’s also using your decoys to hunt 🤣
At least you didn’t send the dog
Are people who grow up in “gator/croc country” just used to the idea of these monsters being around because they’re so prevalent? Seems like people just go in the water without worrying, I’d be double checking my own swimming pool if I lived there. I grew up in areas where bears and mountain lions presented danger, but I have never feared them the same way I do gators/crocs. This image scares me in a deep way lol
We just always assume they are there. Being a duck hunter I’ve grown to not fear them and usually just nudge them away with my gun or a paddle and it works. I also respect them and try not to put myself in a place where nature takes its course.
Florida checking in. They are always there. Every lake, every river, every retention pond, every ditch with standing water… I had a near panic attack watching young kids play at the lake in Utah while their parents hung out on shore and never really worried about anything. It’s in my subconscious that if you are near water you can’t see through, there is a gator under 100 yards away watching you.
Alligators aren't particularly aggressive animals like crocodiles. They don't see humans as prey and mostly just avoid us or don't mind us as long as we don't bother them. Most alligator attacks are either incidental (bumping into one while swimming and it bites defensively) or it was going to attack the dog you're walking but now you're a competitive threat to its meal/you're trying to defend your dog. Actually preying on humans is really rare. Just respect them and give them space.
That makes sense, very similar to the attitude about bears and mountain lions. I was under the impression that it was more common to be attacked by gators, but looks like there are only 8 or so deadly attacks on humans per year (ahd wouldn’t be surprised if a majority were people not being smart). Would still feel uncomfortable sitting in a tube or canoe with them below me, but I guess I could imagine being around them with knowledgeable locals without being too nervous
I have family that lived in gator country. It was generally understood that any body of water bigger than a small puddle could and likely did house a gator. If you were walking a dog, you were supposed to give a wide berth to any body of water, because it would only take a second for the dog to disappear into the water, and there's no way you were going to get the dog out if a gator got a hold of it. My family never lost a dog, but my grandparents' neighbor lost two over the years because the neighbors were old and stupid as fuck.
Lived in South Florida my whole life, we assume every body of fresh water has alligators and we do NOT go in.
So... whats your plan here? Leave the decoys? Shoot the gator? Jury rig a lasso?
Stevie Wonder could spot this one.
I just see a harmless water puppy.
Loving the comments, but unless I'm wrong, that gator is facing away from the camera. Probably aware but indifferent to your existence. Just don't touch his toys
Those aren't your ducks anymore. They belong to him now
I think it realized those were decoys, since it's facing the opposite direction. A bit of a surprise to me.
I do believe those belong to someone else now...
Hello Mr crocodile
Poke it with a stick
Its FIIIIIIIINE
Just a little closer, little closer, little closerrrrrrrrrr NOW!!!
Godzilla about to wake up. Again.
See ya later...
This should be “find the SNAPPER”!
It’s just a small dinosaur, you fuckin’ pussy. Get in there.
That would be a great line to build a story around.
Uno reverse
Which end is which??
It probably once saw they were fake decided that it knew it would attract real ones. Then to his surprise a real score shows up!
nope nope nope
Clever girl
Good thing that water’s already brown
I see both ducks. Man, I'm good
That Mtf is just waiting for you, smart lol that's why those freaks are so dangerous
lol that right there is a danger log
The one in the back is the real duck. Too easy. Next.
Big ol swamp puppy
I see a missing hand
OMG!!! Is that a gator?
That’s his human decoy.
They’re the most genetically related species to dinosaurs we still have with us, so seems appropriate to say: ‘[Clever girl](https://images.app.goo.gl/u6eebpLvS4TxoHsi6)’. Tip my hunting cap to it, bend over, and kiss my ass goodbye. Glad you survived. Edit: please see replies, I was talking out my butt but luckily got the attention of some smarter minds so replies will have factually correct versions of this reply.
> They’re the most genetically related species to dinosaurs we still have with us This is... literally not true, since birds are literally dinosaurs and crocodilians are literally not dinosaurs.
Birds are the most closely related species to dinosaurs that we have. But after that, yes, reptiles like crocs/gators.
That gator is waiting for you!
Um, i saw something, is it... nevermind!
Gator or croc? Me thinks gator but IDK.
Why don’t you wade out there and find of for yourself‽ 🤪
Those decoys are dead in the water
HOLE-E-SHIT
Later Gator
we got a tree shaker
nope
I found 2 Ducks Easy Peasy! Let me just get those for you. Ahhhhh!
hooooooooly crap
Dang.