American alligator

Alligator mississippiensis · The American alligator is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States, living in freshwater wetlands like marshes and cypress swamps.

Also called Common alligator, Mississippi Alligator.

American alligator
Photo: Ianaré Sévi, CC BY-SA 3.0
American alligator
Photo: Zygy, CC0
American alligator
Photo: Rivadavia.vila, CC0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassReptilia
OrderCrocodilia
FamilyAlligatoridae
GenusAlligator
SpeciesAlligator mississippiensis

Where it lives

Swamps, marshes and lakes of the southeastern US, from North Carolina to Texas.

Fun facts

  • Alligator eggs get their sex from temperature: nests on warm levees produce males, while cooler wet-marsh nests produce females.
  • Mother alligators dig their hatchlings out of the nest and carry them to the water in their mouths.
  • When water starts to freeze, alligators poke their snouts up through the surface so they can breathe above the ice.
  • Alligators have been seen balancing sticks on their heads, possibly to lure birds that are looking for nesting material.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).