Did you know that many crocodilian species use behavioral displays to attract mates? American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) have nighttime “dances” where they will swim in pairs for hours before deciding whether or not to mate. Now that’s what I call a nice first date!

[Photo by Grace Davis in Barro Colorado Island, Panama; Caption by Maggie Creamer an Cassidy Cooper]

Reference

Vliet, K. A. (1989). Social displays of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). American Zoologist, 29(3), 1019-1031.

Thorbjarnarson, J. B. (1989). Ecology of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus). Crocodiles: their ecology, management, and conservation, 228-258.