American Alligator

American Alligator

Species: Alligator mississippiensis
Common Name: American Alligator
Natural habitat: Throughout south east America, in wetland areas
Natural foods: Alligators eat almost anything, but primarily consume fish, birds, turtles, small mammals, and snails. Large alligators can take deer and are well known to kill and eat smaller alligators. Young alligators mostly feed on insects, crustaceans, snails, and fish
Life expectancy: Breeding maturity reached at 8-13 years, can live 30 years or more.
Other comments: The American Alligator is a member of the one of the three families of crocodile-like reptiles, whose members are living fossils from the Age of Reptiles, having survived on earth for 200 million years. However, the alligators can be distinguished from the crocodiles and ghavial by their head shape and color. The crocodiles have a narrower snout, and unlike the alligators, have teeth in their lower jaw which are visible even when the mouth is shut. In addition, adult alligators are black, while crocodiles are brownish in color.