Even though the reptile family of crocodiles have been around since the Cretaceous period (80 million years ago), there are actually only two species of alligator. One is the Alligator sinensis (Chinese) that is only found in the Yangtze River Basin, and the other is the Alligator mississippiensis (American) that is found in the southeastern United States.

Alligators live in fresh-water swamps, lakes, and bayous that range as far west as the Rio Grande in Texas and as far north as North Carolina. Alligators are cold-blooded (ectothermic) and warm their bodies by the sun.

Physical Features

Alligators are often mistaken for their cousins the crocodiles and caimans. However, their snouts are broader, flat, and rounded on the end. Also, their lower teeth cannot be seen when their mouths are closed.

Alligators resemble lizards in shape but with thicker bodies and tails. Their eyes stick above their skulls so they can see when their bodies are underwater. Alligators have rough, ridged skin on their backs with dozens of small bones called osteoderms or scuts. Their underbellys are smooth and were popular for making handbags, shoes, etc. Adults are a dull grey or olive in color but young alligators have yellow stripes across their bodies that fade with age.

Today, male alligators will grow to about 12 feet and weigh around 550 pounds (249 kg). Females will reach about 9 feet and 168 pounds (73 kg). Alligators' jaws are hinged on the bottom and contain about 80 very sharp teeth. When teeth are lost or damaged, new ones will continue to grow.

Family Matters

Maturity in alligators has more to do with size than age. A female will mature when she is about 6 feet in length. After mating in the spring, she will build a large nest of mud, soft twigs, and plants above flood level. She will lay a clutch of eggs (from 30 to 60) in the middle of the nest and then cover them with more mud and vegetation.

The temperature of the nest will determine the sex of the eggs. Over 93 degrees Fahrenheit and it will be males. Below 86 degrees Fahrenheit and it will be females; between those two will be a mix of the two sexes.

The mother will guard the nest from all predators for about 60 days. When the youngsters are ready to start hatching, they emit a high, sharp bark. Then the mother will help them by uncovering the eggs and aiding in breaking the shells.

Baby alligators are called hatchlings, and a group of them is called a pod. The babies are about 9 inches in length. They are very vulnerable to snakes, wading birds, raccoons, and even other alligators! That is why the mother will remain close for a year or more, in which the babies will grow a foot a year up to six years. From then on, females will grow much slower than the males.

Eating Habits

Alligators are nocturnal feeders and prefer fish, frogs, snakes, turtles, and birds, but will also eat carrion (dead carcasses).

An alligator will drag his prey underwater to drown it first. Alligators have a special valve in their throats called a glottis that prevents them from drowning! However, the alligator must come above water to swallow his prey, which he will do whole. If the prey is too large to do that, he will twist and flip and squirm until a piece comes loose enough to swallow.

Alligators will also attack small animals such as dogs and pigs. Alligators that become familiar with humans can be dangerous and will sometimes attack. That is why it is illegal in Florida to feed alligators in the wild. Sometimes alligators are blamed for the attacks by their more aggressive cousin, the crocodile.

Status

In 1967, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared alligators an endangered species. However, they have made such a strong comeback that they now allow "controlled" hunting. In the wild, alligators are expected to live from 35 to 50 years. Today, they are raised on "farms" for their meat and skins and tourist attractions.

Fab Facts

Even though an alligator's jaws are very strong, when closed, they can be held shut by a person's bare hands! An alligator's upper jaw is actually part of its skull.

Alligators can walk, run, and crawl. The so-called "high-walk" is when an alligator's limbs are directly underneath its body (instead of splayed to the side) so it can lift his whole body and most of the tail off the ground.

Classification:

Class: Reptilia

Order: Crocodilia

Family: Crocodylidae (includes alligators, crocodiles, caimans, gharials)

Species: Alligator mississippiensis

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