had the highest condition. Condition differences here may be due to prey availability

among the habitats (Santos et al. 1994). Taylor (1979) compared juvenile and sub-adult

saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) condition among habitats and found great

variation. Saltwater crocodiles from upper mangroves had the highest condition and

saltwater crocodiles from freshwater swamps had the lowest condition. Saltwater

crocodiles from both habitats ate insects frequently and therefore a dietary cause to the

condition difference may not fit here (Taylor 1979).

 American alligator condition comparisons also showed differences among

habitats. Zweig (2003) compared the condition of alligators among habitats using the

Fulton's K factor and found great variation. She compared alligator condition from Lake

Griffin, FL, Lochloosa Lake, FL, Orange Lake, FL, Santee, SC, Lake Woodruff, FL,

Everglades, FL, and Newnans Lake, FL, and showed a high variation in alligator

condition. Lake Griffin alligators had the highest condition and the Everglades alligators

had the lowest condition (Zweig 2003). This type of comparison encompasses a huge

geographic range of alligator habitat and offers an insight into the diverse alligator

condition among habitats. Zweig (2003) also noted that Everglades alligators have had a

consistently low condition over time and that this should not be cause for alarm. Delany

and Abercrombie (1986) found significant differences in alligator condition among lakes

in north central Florida, however, the diet of the alligators in these three lakes was not

significantly different.

 Delany et al. (1999) found differences in alligator condition among lakes in

Florida and found that a high condition correlated with a fish dominated diet. In this

study, alligators from Lakes Apopka and Woodruff both had a fish dominated diet,