Once on the verge of extinction, the American alligator has made a remarkable recovery due to strict conservation measures and extensive research. It is no longer endangered except in scattered areas of its range. However, the federal government lists it as threatened because it is very similar in appearance to the American crocodile.
Because the American crocodile is endangered, the government does not want hunters to confuse the two different types of animals. Hunting is allowed in some states but it is strictly controlled.
The greatest threat is currently destruction of habitat; this includes water management systems and increased levels of mercury and dioxins in the water.
Since alligators can become large and will feed on almost anything, they pose a mild threat to humans. In Florida, where there is the greatest alligator population, there have been several reported deaths due to alligator attacks in recent years and human-alligator conflicts are common. Dogs and other pets are also sometimes killed. Alligators are hunted mostly for their skin, but also they are hunted for their meat.
Today, there is a multi-million dollar industry in which alligators are raised for the production of their meat and skin. Also, alligators are a tourist attraction, especially in Florida, where visitors enjoy nature tours to view and occasionally feed them.
Skip to main content. Entry passes are required for all guests, including infants. All visitors ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask in all indoor spaces at the Zoo, regardless of their vaccination status. Fully vaccinated visitors do not need to wear a mask in outdoor areas. Reptile Discovery Center. American alligator. Video of American Alligator.
Animals Animals A-Z American alligator. Share this page:. Fact sheet Conservation Physical Description Both males and females have an "armored" body with a muscular, flat tail.
Size Male alligators are larger than female alligators. Great swimmers, they are equipped with webbed feet and strong tails that propel them through the water. An average male American alligator is 10 to 15 feet three to five meters long.
Half of its length is its massive, strong tail. An alligator can weigh as much as half a ton 1, pounds , but an average male weighs between and pounds to kilograms. Females are usually smaller than males. As big and ferocious as the female alligator may look, she is a gentle mother. A mother alligator makes a nest on shore, where she lays her eggs.
Then she guards her eggs until they're ready to hatch. Read below for the main differences between alligators and crocodiles. Alligators and crocodiles are from the same scientific order, but from different families. They are both members of the Crocodylia, but crocodiles are from the Crocodylidae family, while alligators come from the Alligatordae family. Crocodiles exist both in freshwater and saltwater, whereas alligators prefer freshwater environments. The Florida Everglades is the only place on earth in which both alligators and crocodiles coexist.
The most obvious difference comes from their appearances. Crocodiles have longer, pointier snouts; alligators have shorter, more rounded snouts.
In contrast, when a crocodile has its mouth shut, its back teeth stick up over the top lip, showing off a toothy grin. They are cold-blooded and depend on the natural world around them to provide warmth. To do this, they will bask in the sun or dig holes in mud to trap heat.
Although American alligators can be hard to miss while basking on the shore, they can look eerily like logs when floating in the water. A cousin of the alligator, the American crocodile, is very rare in the U. The best way to tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile is by looking at the mouth. Alligators have a wide, round snout, while crocodiles have a long, thin snout. Crocodiles also have two large teeth that stick out when their mouth is closed. American alligators can be found in the coastal wetlands of the U.
Southeast, as far north as North Carolina and as far west as eastern Texas. Their range extends down to southern Florida and includes the Everglades. These reptiles are usually found in slow-moving freshwater rivers, but also inhabit swamps, marshes, and lakes. American alligators are carnivores. They eat fish , invertebrates , frogs, birds , and mammals.
American alligators hunt predominantly at night. If large prey is captured, they drag it underwater, where it is drowned and devoured. Additionally, American alligators have an adaptation in throat called a glottis. This allows them to capture prey completely submerged in water.
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