![]() ![]() The alligator's full mitochondrial genome was sequenced in the 1990s. The modern American alligator is well represented in the fossil record of the Pleistocene. The Chinese alligator split from the American alligator about 33 million years ago and probably descended from a lineage that crossed the Bering land bridge during the Neogene. EvolutionĪlligators and caimans split in North America during the early Tertiary or late Cretaceous (about 53 million to about 65 million years ago). ![]() Early English spellings of the name included allagarta and alagarto. The name "alligator" is probably an anglicized form of el lagarto, the Spanish term for "the lizard", which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator. Alligators first appeared during the Oligocene epoch about 37 million years ago. Additionally, several extinct species of alligator are known from fossil remains. mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator ( A. The two extant species are the American alligator ( A. ![]() During this time, they can be found in burrows that they construct adjacent to an alligator hole or open water, but they occasionally emerge to bask in the sun during periods of warm weather.An alligator, or colloquially gator, is a large reptile in the Crocodilia order in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. Alligators are dormant throughout much of the winter. They stop feeding when the ambient temperature drops below approximately 70° F, and they become dormant below 55° F. ![]() They are most active when temperatures are between 82° to 92° F. They regulate their body temperature by basking in the sun or moving to areas with warmer or cooler air or water temperatures. As an alligator population matures (and has a higher percentage of large animals), the survival rate would be expected to be lower, in part due to a higher rate of cannibalism.Īlligators are ectothermic (cold blooded). This estimate is for a growing alligator population. Incubation requires approximately 60-65 days, and hatching occurs in late August or early September.įrom an average clutch size of 35, an estimated 4 alligators will reach maturity. Females build a mound nest of soil, vegetation, or debris and deposit approximately 32 to 46 eggs in late June or early July. Courtship begins in early April, and mating occurs in May or June. A female may require 10 to 15 years and a male 8 to 12 years to reach these lengths. Nearly all alligators become sexually mature by the time they reach about 7 feet in length although females can reach maturity at 6 feet. Adult alligators eat rough fish, snakes, turtles, small mammals, and birds. Juvenile alligators eat primarily insects, amphibians, small fish, and other invertebrates. Their diets include prey species that are abundant and easily accessible. Armored plates (scutes) cover the body dorsally, and alligators have a vertically flattened tail.Īlligators are opportunistic feeders. The Florida record for weight is a 1,043 pound (13 feet 10-1/2 inches long) male from Orange Lake in Alachua County. The Florida state record for length is a 14-foot 3 1/2-inch male from Lake Washington in Brevard County. Many people associate alligators with the color green, but this misconception comes from the green algae and floating vegetation that frequently adheres to an alligator’s back.įemale alligators rarely exceed 10 feet in length, but males can grow much larger. It is not uncommon for alligators to take on the colors of their environment. American crocodiles are a brownish gray color, and are generally paler colored than alligators. Adult alligators are primarily dark gray in color with a lighter color underside, although juvenile alligators will have light colored stripes on their sides for camouflage. The American crocodile has a narrow snout, and the fourth tooth of the lower jaw protrudes when closed. Alligators have a broad, rounded snout with no lower teeth visible when their jaw is closed. Alligators can be distinguished from the American crocodile by head shape and color. The American alligator is a large aquatic reptile and is one of two crocodilians native to Florida. Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network.Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.Report injured, orphaned or dead manatees.Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc. ![]()
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