Although alligators are best known for being fearsome predators, they also make loving mothers! Adult female alligators not only defend their nests from predators, but they help their hatchlings make it to water and will spend up to a year protecting them. Scientific Name: Alligator mississippiensis Characteristics: Designed to capture all the striking details of this reptilian family, our artfully sculpted and individually hand-painted figurine features young alligators nestled atop their mother's back, just like they would be in the wild. Their bodies display the camouflaged yellow and brown stripe pattern seen on young alligators, while the mother's dark brown shades help her blend into the murky water while hunting. Size and Color: 12 inches long and 7.5 inches wide, this moss green and mustard yellow alligator family is exactly the length of a standard ruler and its width is a touch shorter than the length of a No. 2 pencil.