Do Alligators Feel? Most people think an alligator’s body is numb from nose to tail — a living suit of armor. He knew that wasn’t true, but he also knew where the truth changed. Slate rested on the muddy bank, his massive body still, one arm stretched slightly forward along the ground. His scales were thick and ridged, built to protect — but not everywhere equally. The forelimbs are different. Beneath the hard outer scales, the skin contains pressure-sensing nerve endings that help the alligator