Alligator without a tail spotted on the road in the USA (3 photos + 1 video)
An unusual alligator that lost its tail has attracted attention in southern Louisiana. A local woman spotted it and posted a video online. The sight of the injured animal has resonated with people. Some can't believe that the dog-like creature is actually an alligator, while others are worried about its survival in the wild. 
Ashlyn Bartholomew was driving her kids home from baseball practice through Plaquemine Parish last week when she spotted a strange creature slowly crossing the highway. At first, the woman thought it was a large dog, but upon closer inspection, it turned out to be an alligator with a missing tail. "Caution, there's half an alligator in the road," she captioned the video she posted on her social network. 
Robert Mendick, a herpetologist at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, explained that the reptile could have lost its tail either because of a collision with a boat propeller or in a fight with a larger relative - males often conflict over territory and females. The expert noted that the wound heals, and alligators have phenomenal healing abilities. Although science knows that these animals are able to regenerate lost limbs, in this case the tail did not recover, forming a stump, IFL Science writes. 
According to Mendik, the loss of the tail makes it difficult for the alligator to hunt in the water, forcing it to look for prey near the shore. However, judging by the condition of the individual, it has successfully adapted to the new conditions. “One way or another, it looks like it is surviving,” the specialist concluded.
