| Alligatoridae () |
| 426.9 cm TL (male/unsexed); 309.9 cm TL (female); max.weight: 473.1 g; max.weight: 129.3 g |
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benthic; freshwater; brackish |
| Western Central Atlantic: Southeast USA (Alabama, Arkansas, North and South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas). |
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Broad snout with bony nasal bridge; edge of upper jaw overlaps with teeth of lower jaw when mouth closed. Juveniles are miniature adults with bright yellow cross-bands on black skin; yellow bands turn to olive brown. Skin around jaws, neck and belly are creamy white. Pale ventral surface, scales near tail black. Bony plates on scales of belly. Olive green eyes (Ref. 77040). Sexual dimorphism visible only on juveniles and adults greater than 0.6 m. |
| Can tolerate saline waters for short periods of time. Construct burrows used for shelter and hibernation at low temperatures. Construct alligator holes for refuge during dry periods. May cross land when alligator holes dry out to find another body of water. Opportunistic feeders. Juveniles feed on small invertebrates (insects, frogs) and small fish. Dietary range increases as size increases and larger adults consume all aquatic and terrestrial prey (fish, turtles, small mammals, birds, reptiles including small alligators). May also scavenge. Feeding activity related to temperature, decreasing at temperatures below 20 to 23°C. Ectothermic. Home range size of adult males is 2000 acres (Ref. 80292). |
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Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
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| traumatogenic |
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