American Alligator
Alligator mississippiensis · Reptile, Vertebrate, Cold-blooded, Wild
Animal Family
Family Alligatoridae, order Crocodilia, class Reptilia
Animal Category
Wild Predator
Breed / Variety
Wild American Alligator
Conservation Status
Least Concern, population has recovered significantly due to successful conservation and management programs
About This Creature
Large reptile with a robust, armored body, dark green, brown, or nearly black skin, a broad snout, and a powerful muscular tail used for swimming.
Physical Characteristics
Thick scaly skin with bony osteoderms, webbed feet, powerful jaws with conical teeth, nostrils and eyes positioned on top of the head for breathing and seeing while submerged
Behavior & Temperament
Solitary, semi-aquatic predator, primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, territorial, uses basking for thermoregulation, communicates through deep bellows
Habitat & Diet
Origin Region
Southeastern United States, primarily in freshwater wetlands from North Carolina to southern Texas and throughout Florida
Habitat
Wetland/Marsh, Freshwater (River/Lake), Semi-aquatic
Diet & Nutrition
Carnivore, feeds on fish, turtles, snakes, birds, and small to medium-sized mammals
Lifespan & Health
Lifespan of 50 years or more in the wild, apex predator with few natural threats as adults, reproduces annually through egg-clutches
Special Characteristics
Keystone species in wetland ecosystems, builds gator holes that provide water for other wildlife during dry periods
Ecological Information
Apex predator, helps control prey populations and shapes wetland habitats through nest building and clearing vegetation