The American Alligator (Alligator Mississippiensis) is one of the two living species of Alligator, a genus within the family Alligatoridae. The American Alligator is native only to the southeastern United States, where it inhabits wetlands that frequently overlap with human-populated areas. It is larger than the other Alligator species, the Chinese Alligator. It has sharp teeth, claws, and tough, scaly skin.
Alligator jaws are designed for catching, killing, and hanging on to prey and not for chewing food. Alligators swallow small morsels whole and will dismember larger prey.
The American Alligator has a large, slightly rounded body, with thick limbs, a broad head, and a very powerful tail. Males can weigh 500 lbs to over 1000 pounds (226.79 kg to over 453.59 kg); the largest recorded American Alligator reached a length of 19 feet, 2 inches (5.8 meters), although 13 to 18 feet (4 to 5.4 meters) is a more common adult size. The tail, which accounts for half of the alligator's total length, is primarily used for aquatic propulsion. They average 74-80 teeth at any given time. Lost teeth regenerate. They are able to submerge for several hours, in cool weather more than 8 hours without breathing has been recorded making them difficult to impossible to see when submerged. The tail can also be used as a weapon of defense when an alligator feels threatened. While alligators travel very quickly in water, they are generally slow-moving on land. However, they have the ability to sprint for short distances at speeds of up to 30 mph or 50 km/h.
An alligator will eat any animal it can overcome. Hunting strategies include waiting unseen for prey to stray too close or moving slowly toward prey without being detected. Large animals are usually taken while drinking at the water’s edge. |
