American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Alligator and Caiman Family (Alligatoridae)
American alligator is a large, olive brown to blackish, aquatic, crocodilian reptile, reaching 14 ft or more long and 1000 lbs. It has a robust body, broadly rounded snout, thick limbs, ridges along its back and tail, and a powerful tail, which comprises half of its total length. The areas around the mouth, neck, and belly are creamy white. The nostrils are on top of the snout, so it can submerge its entire body, except for the nostrils. The lower teeth fit within depressions in the upper jaw when closed, so they are not very visible when the mouth is closed. Females are smaller than the males, usually only reaching 10 ft long. The juveniles are similar to the adults, but have bright yellow cross-banding on a black background to help camouflage them. The yellow banding is lost with age as the alligator turns more olive brown to black. They breed in the spring and lay 20-60 eggs in a nest mound of vegetation and mud, from May to July, along wet area margins or marshes. The female stays near the nest during incubation and helps with emergence. Alligators usually do not feed when temps get below 68-73°F. They hibernate in burrows or dens when the weather turns cold. They are found in many wet areas in the SE, mainly in and around freshwater. Also known as Mississippi alligator, pike-headed alligator, and gator.
Listed as threatened federally and in NC and a species of special concern in FL. Listed federally due to similarity of appearance to other listed crocodilians.
Copyright Brett Miley
