The American alligator is a large reptile native to the southeastern United States. This carnivorous species lives primarily in freshwater swamps, rivers, marshes, and lakes. And while they may seem scary to some, they are fascinating creatures, just take a look at some of these amazing American alligator facts!
Alligators Got Their Name From The Early Spanish Settlers
When Spanish settlers and soldiers came to Florida they called the alligator “el lagarto” which means, “the lizard.” The name changed over time and became “allagarter,” and then eventually what we know today as the “alligator.”
There Are Only Two Species Of Alligator In The World
The American alligator is one, while the other is the Chinese alligator. While both are freshwater species, the Chinese alligator is much smaller typically only reaching seven feet in length. Due to habitat loss, Chinese alligator numbers have declined drastically in recent years.
Alligator Hatchlings Have Incredibly Low Survival Rates
It’s estimated that between as many as eighty to ninety percent of alligator hatchlings are ultimately eaten by predators. This includes animals such as raccoons, largemouth bass, otters, herons, snakes, and larger alligators. However once the baby gators reach around four feet in length they are generally safe from virtually all predators, except for their own kind.
The Alligator Is A Long-Lived Reptile
The average American alligator’s lifespan is between thirty and thirty-five years in the wild. That is of course if it can get past all of the predators which eat young gators. In captivity, alligators are known to live for fifty years or longer.
There Are A Few Ways To Tell Alligators And Crocodiles Apart Visually
When it comes to color alligators are generally darker and are almost black. They also have a broader and more rounded snouts than crocodiles which in contrast have narrower and more triangular-shaped snouts.
Another way you can tell alligators and crocodiles apart is to observe their mouths. When the mouth of an alligator is closed the fourth tooth on either side of the lower jaw cannot be seen since it fits into an internal socket in the upper jaw. With crocodiles, the fourth tooth can always be seen when the mouth is closed. By taking a look at both crocodile and alligator pictures these differences will be easily apparent.
The Biggest Alligator Ever Killed Was Recorded At Nineteen Feet And Two Inches In Length
That giant alligator was actually killed in 1890 in southern Louisiana and weighed close to two thousand pounds. While that specimen was absolutely enormous the average male gator typically reaches between ten and fifteen feet in length and weighs up to one thousand pounds.
The American Alligator Was Placed On The Endangered Species List In 1967
Thanks to the protection offered by the Endangered Species Act, this species has made a full recovery. It was taken off the list after just twenty years. Fast forward to the present and it’s estimated there are well over one million of these reptiles alive today.
The Sex Of An Alligator Is Determined By Nest Temperature
Alligators lay their eggs in nests. Warmer nests (those that are ninety-one degrees Fahrenheit, or hotter) produce males. And nests that are cooler (those that are eighty-six degrees Fahrenheit or less) produce female alligators.
The Alligator Is An Excellent Swimmer
It has webbed feet and a strong tail which help it to maneuver easily in the water. In fact, it is that powerful alligator tail that also propels them in the water and allows them to swim at speeds of up to twenty miles per hour.
Alligators Are Top Predators With A Wide-Ranging Diet
They will eat crustaceans, turtles, invertebrates, snakes, fish, and a variety of mammals including feral hogs and sometimes even black bears. Waterfowl and wading birds are also on the menu.
(It’s no wonder using an alligator decoy to protect ponds from backyard pests such as herons, geese, and raccoons is so effective). Interestingly one of the least known alligator facts is that they also sometimes consume fruit. Citrus fruits, wild grapes, and elderberries have all been found in the stomachs of deceased gators.
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