American Alligator

American alligators on land

American Alligator

Alligator mississippiensis
Class

Reptilia

Order

Crocodylia

Family

Alligatoridae

Range

Southeastern United States

Size

Males Avg. 600 lbs., 11 ft.
Females Avg. 200 - 300 lbs., 8 ft.

Habitat

Freshwater lakes, marshes and swamps

Young

Incubation about 3 months; cluth up to 50 eggs

Diet

Fish, turtles, snakes, mammals and birds

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Alligators are the noisiest reptiles on the planet.

Males roar to get a female’s attention, and to warn off other males. Both males and females bellow when mating.

Jaw-Dropping Force

An alligator's powerful muscles can slam it's jaw shut with a force of over 2,000 pounds per square inch, which is the same amount of impact as a mid-sized car dropping on someone! This allows them to break bones and crush turtle shells.

Wetland Wonders

American alligators are found in freshwater lakes, rivers, swamps, and marshes in the southeastern United States. They are great swimmers, specially equipped with webbed feet and strong tails that propel them through the water. American alligators can swim up to 20 mph.

Gator Hatchlings

When young alligators are ready to hatch, they begin to make high-pitched noises from inside the egg. This lets mom know it's time to remove the nesting material. Baby alligators measure about 6 to 8 inches at hatching.

American alligator in Louisiana Habitat
Our Animals
Moease the American alligator

Moease

Hatched 1969

Moease has been at the Alexandria Zoo since 1974, when he arrived with former Zoo Director Leslie Whitt, who raised him from a tiny eight-inch hatchling.

Chopper the American Alligator

Chopper

Hatched 1965

Chopper is the longest tenured resident at Alexandria Zoo.

American alligator in Louisiana Habitat

Status

Once listed as endangered in 1967, today the American alligator is the most numerous species of crocodilian on the planet.

The alligator is one of the United States' conservation success stories. It was hunted nearly to extinction for its skin, used to make purses, boots and other leather goods. Through strict conservation efforts, alligators made an amazing comeback. Today, they are no longer endangered. However, the American alligator is listed as threatened on the U.S. Endangered Species List because of its similar appearance to the endangered American crocodile.