05/29/2026
The Riverside Zoo is most often remembered for having alligators. π Introduced as early as 1911, they remained a fixture of the zoo for decades. Although the number of individuals varied over the years, three alligators called Riverside home for over half a century. Grandpa, Lady, and One-Eye were moved to and from winter quarters every year, and it became a well-known biannual event for many families to see them up close.
Although these exotic reptiles are no longer here, we π΅π¦π€π©π―πͺπ€π’πππΊ still have βalligatorsβ at the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit. π’ Alligator Snapping Turtles are named for the appearance of walking like an alligator when on land. Rarely found in Kansas, they have a similar body shape to Common snapping turtles, but there are extremely notable differences in their head shape and feeding habits. If you get a chance to see them smiling, youβll notice their tongue looks exactly like, well, a worm. πͺ± Perfect for a fish to check out for lunch. π
Speaking of fish, Alligator Gar arenβt one of the three native Gar species found in Kansas, but are closely related. Their name comes from the size and shape of their snout, which looks much like an alligator in the water. π§ Seriously neat fish, all Gar species have a swim bladder that can act like lungs to gulp air, π« and their eggs are poisonous. β οΈ This explains why these ancient armored beasts have been around longer than T-Rex. π¦
So safe to say, weβre happy to celebrate all βalligatorsβ on National Alligator Day!
