Comparison of bite‐force performance between long‐term captive and wild American alligators ( Alligator mississippiensis )
Abstract
Nearly all animals show altered musculo‐skeletal phenotypes when subjected to captive conditions. Whether such changes affect biomechanical performance is for the most part unknown. In American alligators Alligator mississippiensis such modifications include shortened jaws, more robust body form, and broadened heads. Bite‐force performance was assessed for a variety of sizes of wild‐captured alligator specimens and the results correlated with morphological indices. Bite forces ranged from 217 to 13 172 N, with the latter being the highest value ever measured for a living animal. These data were statistically compared with those for long‐term captive specimens using ANCOVA. Bite‐force performance showed similar patterns of increase between captive and wild‐reared animals, and bite forces with respect to snout–vent length and body mass were statistically indistinguishable. Nevertheless, with respect to head size, captive alligators were found to bite more forcefully than their wild counterparts. These findings illustrate the importance of considering biomechanical performance differences between wild and captive individuals if meaningful ecological ties are to be made. Furthermore, before concluding that wild‐reared or captive animals show similar or different biomechanical performances, it is important to understand that standardization to different morphological parameters can reveal conflicting results. Consideration as to which measures are the most germane to the question…
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The remarkably high bite forces first documented in adult Alligator mississippiensis are typical of most comparable-sized crocodilian species, regardless of rostro-dental anatomy or diet.
“The retention of relative bite-force capacity among crocodilians makes it apparent that the remarkably high bite forces first documented in adult Alligator mississippiensis [14], [15] are typical of most comparable-sized species, regardless of rostro-dental anatomy or diet.”
From Insights into the Ecology and Evolutionary Success of Crocodilians Revealed through Bite-Force and Tooth-Pressure Experimentation (2012) · cites this paper as [15]
Adult bite forces are only known for Alligator mississippiensis.
“Adult bite forces are only known for Alligator mississippiensis [14], [15], but are assumed to vary considerably among taxa.”
From Insights into the Ecology and Evolutionary Success of Crocodilians Revealed through Bite-Force and Tooth-Pressure Experimentation (2012) · cites this paper as [15]
Forces generated during clenching bites are at least 90% of the maximum values recorded during initial, defensive bites.
“Our data show that the forces generated during such bites are at least 90% of the maximum values recorded during initial, defensive bites [14], [15], [31].”
From Insights into the Ecology and Evolutionary Success of Crocodilians Revealed through Bite-Force and Tooth-Pressure Experimentation (2012) · cites this paper as [15]
Prior studies on wild and captive Alligator mississippiensis found statistically indistinguishable bite-force performance in same-sized individuals.
“Our analysis included both male and female specimens since prior studies on wild and captive Alligator mississippiensis bite forces revealed statistically indistinguishable performance in same-sized individuals (i.e. body mass, SVL, TL) [14], [15].”
From Insights into the Ecology and Evolutionary Success of Crocodilians Revealed through Bite-Force and Tooth-Pressure Experimentation (2012) · cites this paper as [15]
Bite-force values for captive specimens can be used to accurately model those in wild individuals when standardized to body mass.
“bite-force values for captive specimens can be used to accurately model those in wild individuals when standardized to body mass [15].”
From Insights into the Ecology and Evolutionary Success of Crocodilians Revealed through Bite-Force and Tooth-Pressure Experimentation (2012) · cites this paper as [15]
Previous research has shown that bite-force generation is statistically indistinguishable between same-sized captive and wild Alligator mississippiensis.
“Our previous research has shown that bite-force generation is statistically indistinguishable between same-sized (i.e. body mass, SVL, or TL) captive and wild Alligator mississippiensis [14], [15].”
From Insights into the Ecology and Evolutionary Success of Crocodilians Revealed through Bite-Force and Tooth-Pressure Experimentation (2012) · cites this paper as [15]
Cited by
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Erickson, G. M., Gignac, P. M., Steppan, S. J., Lappin, A. K., Vliet, K. A., Brueggen, J. D., Inouye, B. D., Kledzik, D., & Webb, G. J. W. (2012) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0031781 · Cited by 218 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Erickson, G. M., Lappin, A. K., Parker, T., & Vliet, K. A.
- Affiliations
- Florida State University (US)
- Northern Arizona University (US)
- University of Florida (US)
- Corresponding author
- Erickson, Gregory M.
- Venue
- Journal of Zoology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2004-01
- Volume
- 262
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 21-28
- ISSN
- 0952-8369 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-7998
- OpenAlex
- W2138403847
- Cited by
- 78
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 1.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Zoology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Urology › Comparative Animal Anatomy Studies
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Geometry and Topology › Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Keywords
- Alligator mississippiensis, bite force, captive versus wild animals, musculoskeletal adaptation, biomechanics, head size, snout-vent length, body mass, morphological indices
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