# Frozen Gators (DD-491)

> When temperatures drop, American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) enter brumation, a reptile dormancy in which metabolism slows sharply. In freezing water they may keep their nostrils above the surface as ice forms, letting them breathe while the rest of the body stays submerged and almost motionless. The footage, credited to AmazingNature, shows an alligator lying in icy water.

- Department: Nature
- First published: 2025-02-18
- Last updated: 2025-02-18
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/frozen-gators/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## Quick facts

- **DD-491-F01**: Brumation. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (State))_
- **DD-491-F02**: Slows. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Metabolism))_

## Write-up

Alligators can poke their snouts through ice to breathe. Their metabolism slows nearly to a stop.

1. **State**: Brumation.
2. **Metabolism**: Slows.
3. **Breathing**: Snout above ice.
4. **Body**: Submerged.
5. **Movement**: Almost none.

## Related case files

- [The Glades (DD-619)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/the-glades/): I linked more on the Everglades
- [Feeling Froggy? (DD-758)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/feeling-froggy/): Another animal that rides out a deep freeze

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: None needed.

## Video: Frozen Gators: Alligators Can Poke Their Snouts Through Ice to Breathe

- Duration: 24.8 s · Published: 2025-02-18
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/DGOX5c-yshc.mp4

### Transcript

Alligators survive [...] called brumation, [...] When temperatures [...] metabolism to [...] survival technique [...] where they keep [...] remain submerged. [...] almost motionless [...] NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: Dormancy term?**  
A: Reptiles. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (State) · Wikipedia: Brumation)_

**Q: How do they breathe?**  
A: Nostrils. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Metabolism) · Wikipedia: Brumation)_

**Q: Metabolism?**  
A: Energy. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Breathing) · Wikipedia: American alligator)_

**Q: Body position?**  
A: Water. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Body) · Wikipedia: American alligator)_

**Q: Species?**  
A: U.S. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Movement) · Wikipedia: American alligator)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: American alligator](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_alligator)
- [Wikipedia: Brumation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brumation)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Frozen Gators." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-491, last updated Feb 18, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/frozen-gators/