It is distinguished from the sympatric American crocodile by its broader snout, with overlapping jaws and darker coloration, and is less tolerant of saltwater but more tolerant of cooler climates than the American crocodile, which is found only in tropical and warm subtropical climates.Īmerican alligators are apex predators and consume fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The American alligator inhabits subtropical and tropical freshwater wetlands, such as marshes and cypress swamps, from southern Texas to North Carolina. Females are smaller, measuring 2.6 to 3 m (8.5 to 9.8 ft) in length. It is one of the two extant species in the genus Alligator, and is larger than the only other living alligator species, the Chinese alligator.Īdult male American alligators measure 3.4 to 4.6 m (11.2 to 15.1 ft) in length, and can weigh up to 500 kg (1,100 lb), with unverified sizes of up to 5.84 m (19.2 ft) and weights of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) making it the second largest member of the family Alligatoridae, after the black caiman. The American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis), sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator or common alligator, is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States.

Approximate range of American alligator in the United States

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