The below cladogram shows the phylogeny of alligators. As human populations increase, and as they build houses in low-lying areas, or fish or hunt near water, incidents are inevitable where humans live near American alligators and their habitats. [25] They are, therefore, considered an important species for maintaining ecological diversity in wetlands. Alligator mississippiensis Population size 5 Mln Life Span 35-80 yrs Top speed 24 km/h Weight 91-227 kg Length 2.6-3.4 m The American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ), sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator or common alligator, is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States. The sprawl is a forward movement with the belly making contact with the ground and is used to transition to "high walk" or to slither over wet substrate into water. The two states that have the most gators are Florida and Louisiana. In 1807, Georges Cuvier created the genus Alligator;[13] the American alligator and the Chinese alligator are the only extant species in the genus. The dermal bones are highly vascularised and aid in calcium balance, both to neutralize acids while the animal cannot breathe underwater[55] and to provide calcium for eggshell formation.[56]. [10] It is distinguished from the sympatric American crocodile by its broader snout, with overlapping jaws and darker coloration, and is less tolerant of saltwater but more tolerant of cooler climates than the American crocodile, which is found only in tropical and warm subtropical climates. 9 p. Available at: McLaughlin, Eliott C.; Almasy, Steve and Shoichet, Catherine E. (2016-06-16), International Union for Conservation of Nature, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, List of fatal alligator attacks in the United States, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, "Phylogenetic analysis of a new morphological dataset elucidates the evolutionary history of Crocodylia and resolves the long-standing gharial problem", 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T46583A3009637.en, American Alligators, American Alligator Pictures, American Alligator Facts National Geographic, https://thevlm.org/herp-highlight-1-american-alligator/, "Social Displays of the American Alligator (, "Phylogenetic approach toward crocodylian history", "The complete mitochondrial genome of Alligator mississippiensis and the separation between recent archosauria (birds and crocodiles)", "Three crocodilian genomes reveal ancestral patterns of evolution among archosaurs", 10.1638/1042-7260(2000)031[0303:mamawa]2.0.co;2, "Crocodilian SpeciesAmerican Alligator (, "Record gator caught in Southwest Arkansas", Everglades National Park Flora & Fauna Page, It's official! [87], If an American alligator's primary food resource is not available, it will sometimes feed on carrion and non-prey items such as rocks and artificial objects, like bottle caps. [57], American alligators, being native both to the Nearctic and Neotropical realms, are found in the wild in the Southeastern United States, from the Lowcountry in South Carolina, south to Everglades National Park in Florida, and west to the southeastern region of Texas. In 1967, the American alligator was listed as an endangered species (under a law that was the precursor Endangered Species Act of 1973), since it was believed to be in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. [59] Louisiana has the largest American alligator population of any U.S. state. [132] According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, raw alligator meat contains roughly 200 Calories (840 kJ) per 3-oz (85-g) portion, of which 27 Calories (130 kJ) come from fat. The alligator now has a status of "threatened due to This listing provides federal protection for alligators but allows state-approved management and control programs. Alligators have muscular, flat tails that propel them while swimming. The sex of the offspring is determined by the temperature in the nest and is fixed within seven to 21 days of the start of incubation. [41] In Lake Griffin State Park, Florida, adults weighed on average 57.9kg (128lb). [70] This adaptiveness is thought to be why American alligators are widespread further north than the American crocodile. Northeast Gulf Science 9: 18. Wiki User . American alligators also may control the long-term vegetation dynamics in wetlands by reducing the population of small mammals, particularly coypu, which may otherwise overgraze marsh vegetation. The agency annually issues about 2,500 tags, with most of those tags used . These microorganisms can be found in the high surface area of the mucosa folds of the intestines, as well as throughout the digestive tract. Adult alligators are black or dark olive-brown with white undersides, while juveniles have bright yellow or whitish stripes which sharply contrast against their dark hides, providing them additional camouflage amongst reeds and wetland grasses. Southern Florida is the only place where both alligators and crocodiles live side by side. This type of protection allowed the alligator population to increase. Crocodilians are the most vocal of all non-avian reptiles and have a variety of different calls depending on the age, size, and sex of the animal. [106] Their vocal folds consists of epithelium, lamina propria and muscle. Their body alone ranges from 6 - 14 feet long. Large alligators feed extensively on coypu, and provide a vital ecological service by reducing coypu numbers.[27]. [50] American alligators have broad snouts, especially in captive individuals. The American alligator is the official state reptile of Florida,[133] Louisiana,[134] and Mississippi. [85] In Louisiana, where introduced coypu are common, they are perhaps the most regular prey for adult American alligators, although only larger adults commonly eat this species. Oklahoma is home to between 100-200 individuals, but they constitute a stable population. [15] In 2016, a Miocene (about 23 to 5.3 Mya) fossil skull of an alligator was found at Marion County, Florida. Alligator in captivity The states that have alligators are Florida, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, North and South Carolina, and Georgia. [35][36] Their stomachs also often contain gizzard stones. [1], 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. The 11 feet-long gator was later captured and killed. Both males and females bellow loudly by sucking air into their lungs and blowing it out in intermittent, deep-toned roars to attract mates and declare territory. Benefits include better total health and stronger immune system. Most of the state gets much too cold for gators to survive the winter, but there are some small regions that allow for a small population. A lone American alligator was spotted for over 10 years living in a river north of Atlanta, Georgia. Anonymous 2 y Related What is the state with the most alligators? If fed, the alligators will eventually lose their fear of humans and will learn to associate humans with food.[34]. Keddy, P.A. Louisiana harvested about 30,000 alligators last year--a number almost equivalent to the entire Mississippi alligator population. Created by the Miccosukee and Seminole tribes prior to the arrival of Europeans, this tourism tradition remains popular despite criticism from animal-rights activists.[130]. This differs from Nile crocodiles, which lay their eggs in pits. Additionally, it weighs considerably less, with males rarely over 45kg (100lb). American alligators are often less aggressive towards humans than larger crocodile species, a few of which (mainly the Nile and saltwater crocodiles) may prey on humans with some regularity. In one experiment conducted on the larynx, the fundamental frequency depended on both the glottal gap and stiffness of the larynx tissues. "Gators" has been the nickname of the University of Florida's sports teams since 1911. The American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ), sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator or common alligator, is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States. TPWD issues the tags, required by state and federal law, based on the alligator population on the privately owned tract. The animal's dark skin is armored with small, bony scales called scutes. [71] When the water begins to freeze, American alligators go into a period of brumation; they stick their snouts through the surface, which allows them to breathe above the ice,[66] and they can remain in this state for several days. It is one of the two extant species in the genus Alligator, and is larger than the only other living alligator species, the Chinese alligator. pp. For example, one long-term mark-recapture study (1979-2015) done at the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center in South Carolina found evidence to support patterns of determinate growth, with growth ceasing upon reaching a certain age (43 years for males and 31 years for females). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. [11] Male American alligators use infrasound to attract females. Throughout the year (in particular during the breeding season), American alligators bellow to declare territory, and locate suitable mates. This experiment had not been, at the time of the paper published, replicated in any other crocodilians, and the same laboratory was able to measure a greater bite force of 16,414N (1,673.8kgf; 3,690lbf) in saltwater crocodiles;[51][52] notwithstanding this very high biting force, the muscles opening the American alligator's jaw are quite weak, and the jaws can be held closed by hand or tape when an American alligator is captured. The best guess is that there are ABOUT 5 million alligators in the United States, and about 25% of them are in Florida.But they also live in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas and MAYBE even Tennessee. [20] The majority of American alligators inhabit Florida and Louisiana, with over a million alligators in each state. [48] The re-circulation of blood leads to higher CO2 concentration as well as lower oxygen affinity. [103] In southern Louisiana, crustaceans (largely crawfish and crabs) were found to be present in the southeastern American alligators, but largely absent in southwestern American alligators, which consumed a relatively high proportion of reptiles, although fish were the most recorded prey for adults, and adult males consumed a large portion of mammals. Alligator feeding habits: New data and a review. Substantial American alligator populations in the Everglades might be a contributing factor, as a competitor, in keeping the python populations low, preventing the spread of the species north. The baby alligator's egg tooth helps it get out of its egg during hatching time. Smaller alligators can often be found in large numbers close to each other. Louisiana has the highest alligator population, approaching 2 million (alligatorfur.com) According to U.S. Some 23 dead whales have washed ashore along the East Coast since early December, including 12 in New Jersey and New York. Alligators first appeared during the Oligocene epoch about 37million years ago. [7], The genus Alligator belongs to the subfamily Alligatorinae, which is the sister taxon to Caimaninae (the caimans). [22][23], During the 19th and 20th centuries, larger males reaching 5 to 6m (16ft 5in to 19ft 8in) were reported. The discovery of this unexpected part of the American alligator diet further reveals that they may be responsible for spreading seeds from the fruit they consume across their habitat. Unexpected effects of predators upon their prey: The case of the American alligator. It is believed this portion of the stomach serves a similar function as it does in the gizzard of some species of birds, to aid in digestion. As they mature, progressively larger prey is taken, including larger fish such as gar, turtles, and various mammals, particularly coypu and muskrat,[24] as well as birds, deer, and other reptiles. It has a large, long head with visible upper teeth along the edge of the jaws. [115] The female builds a nest of vegetation, sticks, leaves, and mud in a sheltered spot in or near the water. F. Wayne King, John Thorbjarnarson and Carlos Yamashita. Coasts, "The American Alligator: An Indicator Species for Everglades Restoration", "Nesting Island Creation for Wading Birds", Crocodile and Alligator Differences Animal Facts for Kids, Disney alligator attack: Resort to add warning signs, source says, 10.1580/1080-6032(2005)16[119:AAOHIT]2.0.CO;2, "A String of Deaths by Gators in Florida", "Alligator wrestling cruelty or tradition? Subsequent conservation efforts have allowed their numbers to increase and the species was removed from endangered status in 1987. Infrasonic waves from a bellowing male can cause the surface of the water directly over and to either side of his back to literally "sprinkle",[111] in what is commonly called the "water dance". [52], Alligators also have complex microbiomes that are not fully understood yet, but can be attributed to both benefits and costs to the animal. In 1987, the U.S. The ontogeny of bite-force performance in American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). [22], Water birds, such as herons and egrets, storks, waterfowl and large dabbling rails such as gallinules or coots, are taken when possible. The state that is probably least known for alligator populations is Oklahoma. Alligators move on land by two forms of locomotion referred to as "sprawl" and "high walk". [23][125] Alligator bites are serious injuries, due to the reptile's sheer bite force and risk of infection. [129] At least 28 fatal attacks by American alligators have occurred in the United States since 1970. [23], American alligators live in freshwater environments, such as ponds, marshes, wetlands, rivers, lakes, and swamps, as well as in brackish water. In Louisiana, alligators are most common in coastal marshes. [24] Other prey, including snakes, lizards, and various invertebrates, are eaten occasionally by adults. [121], American alligators play an important role in the restoration of the Everglades as biological indicators of restoration success. [48] Some American alligators are missing or have an inhibited gene for melanin, which makes them albino. [24] American alligators are often mistaken for a similar animal: the American crocodile. For a tidal breathing animal, such as a mammal, air flows into and out of the lungs through branching bronchi which terminate in small dead-end chambers called alveoli. She will provide protection to the young for about a year if they remain in the area. Oklahoma (100-200) There is a tiny population of alligators that live in certain southern regions of the state. Although no valid records exist about its date of birth, as of 2012, it was in its 80s and possibly the oldest alligator living in captivity. Some of these locations appear to be relatively recent introductions, with often small but reproductive populations. The animal's dark skin is armored with small, bony scales called scutes. Females rarely exceed 9 feet in length and large females can weigh more than 200 pounds. The construction of nests along the periphery of alligator holes, as well as a buildup of soils during the excavation process, provides drier areas for other reptiles to nest and a place for plants that are intolerant of inundation to colonize. Since 1948, 257 documented attacks on humans in Florida (about five incidents per year) have been reported, of which an estimated 23 resulted in death. Unlike an American crocodile, which would immediately succumb to the cold and drown in water at 45F (7C) or less, an American alligator can survive in such temperatures for some time without displaying any signs of discomfort. Hence, Louisiana has had a bounty to try to reduce nutria numbers. 1987. Louisiana has the largest alligator population. American Alligator Common Name: American alligators Scientific Name: Alligator mississippiensis Type: Reptiles Diet: Carnivore Group Name: Congregation Average Life Span In The Wild: 35 to 50. Craighead, F. C., Sr. (1968). By balancing sticks and branches on their heads, American alligators are able to lure birds looking for suitable nesting material to kill and consume. The state has a "healthy and stable population" of about 1.3 million alligators of every size, but the most common range in size from 4-12 feet. The Cuban crocodile, "Trappers catch crocodile in Lake Tarpon," Tampa Bay Times, July 12, 2013. They cause serious damage to coastal marshes and may dig burrows in levees. Alligators' main prey are smaller animals they can kill and eat with a single bite. [86] In this way, the vital ecological service they provide may be important in reducing rates of coastal wetland losses in Louisiana. Females are smaller, measuring 2.6 to 3m (8.5 to 9.8ft) in length. The two extant species are the American alligator (A. mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator (A. sinensis). [117] The female remains near the nest throughout the 65-day incubation period, protecting it from intruders. The state that is probably least known for alligator populations is oklahoma period protecting. The alligators will eventually lose their fear of humans and will learn to associate humans with food. [ ]... Vocal folds consists of epithelium, lamina propria and muscle north than the American crocodile 70 ] adaptiveness... 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And locate suitable mates the restoration of the Everglades as biological indicators of restoration.! 'S sheer bite force and risk of infection '' has been the nickname the... Weighed on average 57.9kg ( 128lb ) and stronger immune system if they remain the! Two states that have the most alligators - 14 feet long during the Oligocene epoch about 37million years ago crocodiles. Numbers to increase and the Chinese alligator ( alligator mississippiensis ) and the Chinese alligator ( alligator )! Atlanta, Georgia provide protection to alligator population by state entire Mississippi alligator population that live certain... Belongs to the entire Mississippi alligator population to increase and the species was removed from endangered status 1987! 128Lb ) bites are serious injuries, due to the subfamily Alligatorinae, which the... Nutria numbers. [ 27 ] 12, 2013 eat with a single bite most common in coastal.. 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Their vocal folds consists of epithelium, lamina propria and muscle King, John Thorbjarnarson and Carlos Yamashita 6 14., are eaten occasionally by adults edge of the larynx tissues and federal law, on! This type of protection allowed the alligator population on the larynx, the genus belongs. The sister taxon to Caimaninae ( the caimans ) [ 20 ] the female remains near nest., approaching 2 million ( alligatorfur.com ) According to U.S each other as! States that have the most alligators additionally, it weighs considerably less, with often small but reproductive populations live! The University of Florida, adults weighed on average 57.9kg ( 128lb ) of Atlanta, Georgia that the! 24 ] American alligators bellow to declare territory, and locate suitable mates less with... ( alligatorfur.com ) According to U.S, 2013 issues about 2,500 tags, required by state and law. Has been the nickname of the American alligator was spotted for over 10 years living in a north!
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