In your alligator’s case, methane may be produced by microbes like methanogenic archaea in damp, low-oxygen areas of the feet—especially when mixed with sweat, mud, or organic debris. Even if it’s odorless, it amplifies the gas cloud effect visually and chemically.
An alligator’s feet might have a distinct smell, reminiscent of sulfur.
• “What does the alligator say when it catches a whiff of its own feet?”
• “PU!”
The odor is often described as a dark yellow hue.