Details
Alligator mississippiensis
The American alligator is a large reptile of Nearctic freshwater wetlands. Diurnal and mostly solitary, it is also an ecosystem-shaping predator.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It lives in swamps, marshes, lakes, rivers, and ponds. Burrows and alligator holes can retain water in dry periods and serve other wildlife.
Length is about 300-460 cm and weight about 90-450 kg. A broad snout, dark scales, and powerful tail are typical; only eyes and nostrils may show at the surface.
It basks by day and waits quietly in water. Adults are mostly solitary, using calls and postures to advertise themselves during the breeding season.
It is carnivorous, taking fish, turtles, birds, and mammals. It lunges at prey near water and holds it with very strong jaws.
Females lay eggs in mounds of vegetation and guard the nest area. Hatchlings call to the mother and receive protection for a time.
Its status is listed as Least Concern. Once heavily reduced, it recovered under protection and is now managed as an iconic wetland predator.
