This is a very useful design trick, because, as you can see, the linked levers mean that a large movement can be achieved with very little effort. The lollipop sticks stretch and close in a scissor movement, and the jaw at the end snaps open and shut.

Can you think of some other things that you could design that would also use levers? See if you can design a similar toy to the angry alligator, that has an up and down action rather than a side to side one (such as a frog that hops up and down, for example). Or you could design some 'tongs' to use at mealtimes to pick up sugar lumps across the table without leaving your seat!