AMERICAN ALLIGATOR

By: Tristin

Physical Characteristics

• The American Alligator can be up to 18 feet long, but females are smaller.

• It can weigh 450-600 pounds; however females are smaller .

• The American Alligator’s color can be green, brown, and black.

Lifespan

• The American Alligator can live 35-50 years in the wild.

• They can live 60-80 years in captivity like at a zoo or animal reserve.

Diet

• The American Alligator is a carnivore. That means it eats meat.

• The American Alligator eats fish, turtles, mammals, birds, and other reptiles.

Population

• There is an estimated number of American Alligators in the south eastern United States is several million. That’s not as many as you might think.

Habitat

• The states the American Alligator are found in are Florida, southern Texas, Louisiana, North and South Carolina.

• Their habitats are swamps, rivers, ponds, and wetlands.

ADAPTATIONS

• Teeth : The American Alligator’s teeth help it rip and tear flesh from its prey.

• Tail : The American Alligator’s tail helps it knock its prey off its feet and to swim.

• Muscle : The American Alligator uses its muscle to overpower its prey.

Fun Facts

• Did you know that in 1897 Florida declared the American Alligator their official state reptile?

WHY ARE THEY ENDANGERED

• The American Alligator is endangered because they are dying out due to habitat loss.

• They are endangered also because they were hunted for their leathery skin.

REFERENCES

• Defenders of the Wild. 2012.

• www.defenders.org