Where “congregation” describes alligators gathering for a reason, “raft” describes how they look while doing it. Picture several alligators floating together at the surface of a still pond or backwater, barely moving, eyes and nostrils just above the waterline. From a distance, that low, flat silhouette really does resemble a raft drifting on the water. … Read more
Alligators have a reputation as loners, and for the most part, that reputation is earned. So when the word “congregation” gets attached to them, it’s describing something genuinely notable: a temporary gathering with a purpose, not a permanent social structure. Mother alligators are the most common reason a congregation forms. Hatchlings face steep odds, only … Read more
A group of alligators is called a congregation — with raft and bask as genuine, behavior-specific alternates.