Living By the Lakeside

Two species of alligators live in lakes. The American alligators that are native to the Southeastern US and the Chinese alligators living in China. American alligators are mostly found in swamps and marshes. These animals prey upon bullfrogs, crabs, turtles, and large fish. Chinese alligators live in fresh water at the base of mountains and hide in tall grasses and shrubs. They feed on river snails but can also eat insects, aquatic birds, and clams.

Beavers are found around freshwater habitats, among them lakes, rivers, and ponds. They are the second-largest rodents on Earth and are native to the Northern Hemisphere. There are two species, the Eurasian beaver and the North American beaver. They enjoy building dams with rocks and branches and other natural materials. Beavers dine on leaves, herbs, cattails, and water lilies.

Bluegill are native to the US and northern Mexico. They are identifiable by a black spot on their bodies resembling an earmark.

Channel catfish are large fish that are native to the Nearctic. They are common in the eastern and northern US and have been introduced to parts of Europe, Malaysia, and Indonesia. These fish can weigh up to 58 pounds, but most are 2 to 4 pounds. They dine on smaller fish such as yellow perch and sunfish and consume insects and plants.

Crabs are common in lakes. Some freshwater crabs are bred for aquariums. There are more than 1,300 species of freshwater crabs on Earth. They are also common in rivers and swamps and can be found hiding in caves near water sources.

Ducks are among the most common animals living in and around lakes. There are more than 100 duck species in the world. These waterfowl are part of the Anatidae family. They prefer to dine on grass, small fish, amphibians, and insects. They eat at the surface of the water and dive down for food.

Egrets live in and around lakes. They are lovely white birds. Every species has a unique environment, but most hunt and live in saltwater and freshwater marshes. Egrets are herons; most have white feathers, but there are also reddish egrets with reddish feathers. Egrets are known for catching various types of fish, which make up a significant portion of their diet.

Flamingos are bright pink, lovely wading birds. They live in lakes and lagoons. They have very long legs and belong to the Phoenicopteridae family. There are about six subspecies, with four living in the Americas and the other two native to Afro-Eurasia. Flamingos are best known for standing on one leg. Their coloring comes from their diet. The more carotenoids in their diet, the more vibrant they are.

Freshwater crocodiles are large reptiles that are endemic to the northern regions of Australia. They prefer to dine on frogs, mammals, reptiles, crustaceans, and fish. With small prey the crocodiles will patiently wait, but with larger prey they’ll stalk and ambush. These crocodiles can weigh up to 220 pounds.

Freshwater snails can be found everywhere on Earth. Some live in oceans or entirely on land. They are gastropod mollusks and live in lakes, rivers, and ponds. There are more than 4,000 species of freshwater snails.

Gars are long fish belonging to the Lepisosteidae family. These fish have heterocercal tails and sharp teeth. They are only found in North America. Some of the most common gars are alligator gars, spotted gars, and Florida gars.

Largemouth bass are fish popular with anglers, with the largest catch weighing 22.4 pounds. These fish are members of the Centrarchidae family and native to the eastern and central US, southeastern Canada, and northern Mexico. They are also known as an invasive species in other parts of the world, including Guatemala and Japan. Their diet consists of smaller fish, aquatic salamanders, insects, and snails.

Minks are semi-aquatic mammals found in and around riverbanks, lakes, and marshes. There are two living mink species, the European mink and the American mink. They have silky brown coats. Minks are bred and used for their mink fat, which is used to make mink oil.

Painted turtles are among the most common freshwater turtle species. They are slow-moving turtles native to North America. Their shells are bright yellow with red stripes. They prefer to dine on small fish, crustaceans, insects, and algae. Painted turtles are unique because they are the only turtles found from the Atlantic to the Pacific. There are also multiple subspecies and hybrids.

Pink salmon are large fish and can reach up to 15 pounds. They have interesting pink coloring and are native to the Pacific and Arctic coastal waters and rivers. You can find them in rivers like the Lena River, MacKenzie River, and Salinas River. Although they are named pink salmon, this fish species isn’t entirely pink. Instead, they are silver shimmering fish with yellowish-white bellies. These beautiful fish mainly eat other smaller fish, invertebrates, and zooplankton.

River otters also live in lakes and can be found in many waterways in North America. These are semi-aquatic animals, spending time in and out of the water. They dine on fish and are keen hunters. They also enjoy reptiles, crustaceans, birds, and insects. These are social and friendly creatures known for their playfulness.

Swans are lovely birds of the Anatidae family. They are closely related to geese. These birds mate for life and are found all throughout the Earth. They aren’t native to Asia, Central America, northern South America, and Africa. Swans live in and around lakes. They find food on both land and in the water.