Animals Reptiles & Amphibians

American Alligator

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

Alligator mississippiensis

PROFILE:

American alligators were once critically endangered but due to impressive conservation efforts they have made such a comeback that their numbers are estimated to be over 1 million in the wild, and they are even considered pests in some parts of their range!

TYPE OF ANIMAL:

reptile, crocodylia (crocodiles and alligators)

NATIVE TO:

North America: southeastern United States into Texas and Oklahoma

IUCN CONSERVATION STATUS:

lower risk/least concern

DIET:

carnivore

LIFESPAN:

up to 60+ years

SOCIAL STATUS:

social but territorial, especially during breeding season