American Alligator

(Alligator mississipiensis)

by Richard, High School for Environmental Studies, NYC

The American alligator (Alligator mississipiensis) is one of the largest reptiles. The length of adult alligators varies from 13 to 18 feet. The tail accounts for about half of its length. They can weigh from about 450 to 500 pounds.

The American alligator is usually a solitary animal. Their diet consists of whatever they can catch. Babies feed on insects, shrimp, tadpoles, frogs and fish, while adults will eat turtles, fish, raccoons, birds, and dead animals. The American alligator is found in the warm wetlands and swamps of the Southeastern United States (Florida, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama).

american alligator

In the morning, alligators will come on to the land, basking in the suns rays. As midday approaches and the sun becomes stronger, they tend to retreat back to the water. The alligator does this because it is a reptile, and it has to control its body temperature using its external environment.

The American alligator is one of the most vocal species of reptiles. Its call is like the roar of a lion. Alligators grumble or roar when they are aggravated.

alligator yearling The breeding season of the American alligator lasts from April to May. A female will lay 25 to 60 eggs in a mound of vegetation. They are incubated by the warmth of the sun, and hatch in 9 weeks. The mother alligators guard their nests and protect their young for several months after they hatch.

American alligators dramatically affect the appearance of the landscape. They dig gator holes, which support a whole community of other creatures and plants. By building up the land around the gator holes, they create new places for plants to grow.

Humans are the American alligators main threat to survival. They are hunted for their skin, for leather goods, and for their meat. Before hunting was controlled in 1970 an estimated 10 million alligators were killed for their skins.

Conservation efforts have saved the American alligator from the brink of extinction, and its no longer an endangered species. The American alligator is in good hands now, but we have to make an effort to protect it. Its survival is directly linked to the survival of the other creatures in the ecosystem.

Which is Which? by Arlene, HSES, NYC
It is easy to confuse an alligator and a crocodile at first glance. They are really quite different though. Alligators have broader heads and blunter snouts. Their lower teeth fit inside the edge of the upper jaw and cannot be seen when the mouth is closed. Crocodiles, on the other hand, have a narrow head and longer snout. Their lower teeth can be seen when their mouths are pone. Another difference between these animals is that crocodiles prefer brackish or salt water, while alligators are usually found in fresh water.