American Alligator
Fast Facts
What do they look like?
American alligators are large, powerful reptiles. As adults, females average 8-9 feet while
males average 11-12 feet long, half of which is their laterally flattened tail. Their long tail is used
for propulsion while swimming as well as for defense. Although American alligators typically
weigh 170-800 pounds, large males have been recorded at up to 1,000 pounds. They are dark
grey in color with rounded bodies, thick limbs, and broad heads. Juveniles have distinct yellow
bands around their bodies which fade as they grow. They have partially webbed feet to aid in
swimming. Their eyes and nostrils are located high on the head so that they can rest or hunt
while being submerged in the water.
How do they behave?
Common Name: American Alligator,
Alligator
Scientific Name:
Alligator
mississippiensis
What’s on the menu?
Family: Alligatoridae
Order:
As ectotherms, alligators cannot make their own body heat and must bask in the sun to raise
their body temperature. Although slow on land, alligators are capable of quickly lunging short
distances and are agile swimmers. They have one of the strongest measured bites of any
animal, with adults easily able to crush through relatively large bones and turtle shells.
Alligators have sharp teeth for catching, tearing, and holding prey, but they do not chew their
food. They swallow small stones that remain in their gizzards, aiding in digestion by breaking
down food.
Alligators are opportunistic carnivores and their diet is largely determined by what is available.
Hatchlings primarily eat invertebrates such as insects, arachnids, mollusks, and worms. As they
grow, they start eating fish and eventually larger prey. Adult American alligators are capable of
catching larger mammals such as raccoons, opossums, nutrias, and even deer! Alligators are
apex predators and are crucial to keeping their ecosystems balanced. At the Zoo, they eat
rodents, chicken pieces, and other meat.
Crocodylia
Class: Reptilia
Range: Southeastern United States
How are they born?
Alligators breed in the spring. Males produce a deep bellow to attract a mate. Females build
nests made of sticks, leaves, and mud near the water. She will lay 20-50 white eggs, after which
she will cover them with more vegetation. The vegetation releases heat as it decomposes,
keeping the eggs warm. The temperature at which the eggs are incubated will determine the
sex of the embryos. Males will result from higher incubation temperatures while females result
from lower temperatures. The mother will guard the nest for approximately 65 days. The
hatchlings emit a high-pitched noise as they emerge from the eggs, signaling to their mother
to dig them out of the nest. The female alligator will protect the babies for 5-6 months and
may even transport them in her mouth or on her back! Juveniles are preyed upon a variety of
predators until they reach maturity. As adults, they have no natural predators.
Habitat:
Wetlands, marshes,
swamps
Alligator or crocodile?
Lifespan: Typically 35-50 years;
oldest on record was over 75 years
Both alligators and crocodiles are in the order Crocodylia, but are in different families.
Alligators primarily live in freshwater wetlands while crocodiles may live in fresh or saltwater
habitats. Alligators have broad U-shaped snouts, and their upper jaw is wider than the lower
jaw. Crocodiles have narrower V-shaped snouts with equal-sized jaws, causing many teeth to
be visible when their mouths are closed.
Conservation Status:
Stable
What can you do to help?
Thirty years ago, the American alligator was an endangered species at risk of becoming extinct
due to hunting and loss of habitat. Through the efforts of the US Fish and Wildlife Service,
state wildlife agencies, and alligator farms, American alligators have made a remarkable
recovery. They still need our help by spreading the word about important role they play in their
ecosystem and by avoiding products made from alligator hides.