What is the American Alligator?

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The American Alligator is classified in the Crocodylia order, and family of alligatoridae. The species is called the Alligator Mississiooiensis. The name comes from the Spanish word of el lagarto, meaning “the lizard”. All American Alligators, male and female, exhibit a body of “Armor”, along with a flat, muscular tail. This armored skin has what are known as osteoderms along the back, which look like bony plates on the animal. The legs of an American Alligator are very short, with the front having five toes each, and the back having four. Both male and females will have a very long snout, with nostrils that point upwards at the very end. An American Alligator with yellow strips along the tail is a young one- as they mature into adults, the stripe darkens considerably. The female can reach a length up to about 8.2 feet, and the male up to 11.2 feet.

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The American Alligator is found throughout many states, from North Carolina all the way into Texas. They prefer freshwater, and can be found in bodies of water that are slow moving, these include swamps and marshes. Saltwater cannot be tolerated long because of their lack of salt glands. The American Alligator is a carnivore, meaning its diet consists almost completely of meat. Their jaws are so strong they can easily break a turtle’s shell in one bite. In the wild, they will feast on mostly any type of animal that they can reach, including frogs, turtles, mice, rats and even birds. An American Alligator in a controlled environment, such as a zoo, will be fed rats, chickens and rabbits.

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When the American Alligator reaches a length of six feet or so, they have achieved sexual maturity. This takes at least 10 to 12 years. The male American Alligator will roar loudly to both attract the female and to keep other males away. He will then circle around the female, until he is ready to mount her. The male will start “courting” the female in April, but the actual mating will not begin until the beginning of May.

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As with anything, there are many myths surrounding the American Alligator. Rumors sometimes fly about the “big” one, as many people believe they can get over 20 feet in length. In reality, the largest American Alligator caught on record was 19 feet. Most alligators do not surpass 13 feet in length. Another popular myth is that an alligator will chase people, which is not true. They may move aggressively towards a human if they are near a nest, but most alligators will shy away from humans, as they are too big to be prey.