American alligator

Not to be confused with the American crocodile.

American alligator
Temporal range: 7.5 – 0 Ma[1] Late Miocene – present
At the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, Ohio
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[3]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Archosauromorpha
Clade: Archosauriformes
Order: Crocodilia
Family: Alligatoridae
Subfamily: Alligatorinae
Genus: Alligator
Species:
A. mississippiensis
Binomial name
Alligator mississippiensis
(Daudin, 1802)
Approximate range of American alligator
Synonyms[4]

The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), sometimes referred to as a gator, or common alligator is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States and a small section of northeastern Mexico. It is one of the two extant species in the genus Alligator, and is larger than the only other living alligator species, the Chinese alligator.

Adult male American alligators measure 3.4 to 4.6 m (11.2 to 15.1 ft) in length, and can weigh up to 500 kg (1,100 lb), with unverified sizes of up to 5.84 m (19.2 ft) and weights of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) making it the second largest member by length and the heaviest of the family Alligatoridae, after the black caiman. Females are smaller, measuring 2.6 to 3 m (8.5 to 9.8 ft) in length.[5][6][7][8][9] The American alligator inhabits subtropical and tropical freshwater wetlands, such as marshes and cypress swamps, from southern Texas to North Carolina.[10] It is distinguished from the sympatric American crocodile by its broader snout, with overlapping jaws and darker coloration, and is less tolerant of saltwater but more tolerant of cooler climates than the American crocodile, which is found only in tropical and warm subtropical climates.

American alligators are apex predators and consume fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Hatchlings feed mostly on invertebrates. They play an important role as ecosystem engineers in wetland ecosystems through the creation of alligator holes, which provide both wet and dry habitats for other organisms. Throughout the year (in particular during the breeding season), American alligators bellow to declare territory, and locate suitable mates.[11] Male American alligators use infrasound to attract females. Eggs are laid in a nest of vegetation, sticks, leaves, and mud in a sheltered spot in or near the water. Young are born with yellow bands around their bodies and are protected by their mother for up to one year.[12] This species displays parental care, which is rare for most reptiles. Mothers protect their eggs during the incubation period, and moves the hatchlings to the water using her mouth.[13]

The conservation status of the American alligator is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Historically, hunting had decimated their population, and the American alligator was listed as an endangered species by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Subsequent conservation efforts have allowed their numbers to increase and the species was removed from endangered status in 1987. The species is the official state reptile of three states: Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Whiting2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Elsey, R.; Woodward, A. & Balaguera-Reina, S.A. (2019). "Alligator mississippiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T46583A3009637. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T46583A3009637.en.
  3. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  4. ^ Species Alligator mississippiensis at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.com.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference natgeo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference philadelphiazoo.org was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference animalspot was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference gatorfact was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference nationalzoo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Virginia Living Museum. (2016, April 30). Herp highlight #1: American alligator. Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://thevlm.org/herp-highlight-1-american-alligator/
  11. ^ Vilet, Kent (1989). "Social Displays of the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)". American Zoology. 2 (3): 1019–1031. doi:10.1093/icb/29.3.1019.
  12. ^ Pajerski, Lauren; Schechter, Benjamin; Street, Robin (2000). "Alligator mississippiensis". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
  13. ^ Merchant, M., Savage, D., Cooper, A., Slaughter, M., Perkin, J. S., & Murray, C. M. (2018). Nest attendance patterns in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Copeia, 106(3), 421-426.