American alligator, also known as Mississippi Alligator or Alligator mississippiensis belongs to the family Alligatoridae. It is one of the only two living species of alligator. The other one is the Chinese alligator or Alligator sinensis. The word alligator is derived from the Spanish 'el lagarto', which means lizard. According to scientific estimation, the American alligator is more than 150 million years old. It was the contemporary of dinosaurs, which became extinct almost 65 million years ago. American alligators were generally hunted for their skins, as it was used in making leather. They were also poached for their flesh. Large scale poaching of American alligator coupled with loss of habitat had reduced its population to such an extent that it was on the brink of extinction.
Ten Facts about American Alligator
- The average male American alligator grows to a length of 3.4 to 4.5 meter(around 13 to 17 feet long), while the length of the average female American alligator is 2.5 to 3 meter (9 to 11 feet long).
- American alligators have a large, slightly rounded body covered with coarse scales. Their head is large with striking eyes and nostrils, and they have powerful jaws with pointed teeth. The huge tail accounts for nearly half of its length.
- Alligators are carnivorous, and they mainly eat fish, birds, snakes, mammals, turtles and sometimes even dead animals. Hatchlings or young alligators mainly eat insects, tadpoles, frogs and small fish.
- American Alligators can remain underwater for several hours if not actively swimming or hunting (then it is only about 20 minutes).
- American alligators are mainly found in the regions of Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Carolina, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia and Texas.
- American alligators reach the reproduction stage at 8 to 13 years of age and spring (April and May) is the time when they mate.
- The average number of eggs laid by female alligators vary between 25 to 60.
- After mating, they build nests by using vegetation, mud and leaves for laying eggs.
- The average life span of an American alligator is about 30-35 years, but they can live up to more than 50 years in captivity.
- American alligator is a freshwater animal. It thrives in wetlands like swamps, marshes, bogs, lakes and rivers.
