American alligator
E22010
The American alligator is a large, semi-aquatic reptile native to the southeastern United States, known for inhabiting freshwater wetlands and playing a key role as an apex predator in its ecosystems.
Observed surface forms (1)
| Surface form | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Alligator mississippiensis | 1 |
Statements (87)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
crocodilian
ⓘ
reptile ⓘ species ⓘ |
| activityPattern | mostly nocturnal ⓘ |
| averageAdultLength | 3.4 meters ⓘ |
| averageAdultMass | 200 kilograms ⓘ |
| binomialName |
American alligator
self-linksurface differs
ⓘ
surface form:
Alligator mississippiensis
|
| bodyTemperatureRegulation | ectothermic ⓘ |
| breedingSeason | spring ⓘ |
| class | Reptilia ⓘ |
| clutchSize | 20 to 50 eggs ⓘ |
| coexistsWith | American crocodile in southern Florida ⓘ |
| commercialUse |
leather industry
ⓘ
meat production ⓘ |
| commonName |
American alligator
ⓘ
gator ⓘ |
| conservationStatus | Least Concern ⓘ |
| conservationStatusSystem |
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
ⓘ
surface form:
IUCN Red List
|
| diet | carnivorous ⓘ |
| distinctiveFeature |
broad U-shaped snout
ⓘ
overlapping upper teeth when mouth is closed ⓘ |
| distinguishedFrom | American crocodile ⓘ |
| ecologicalRole |
apex predator
ⓘ
keystone species ⓘ |
| family | Alligatoridae ⓘ |
| farmedIn |
Florida
ⓘ
Louisiana ⓘ other Gulf Coast states ⓘ |
| firstDescribedBy | François Marie Daudin ⓘ |
| foundIn |
Alabama
ⓘ
Arkansas ⓘ Florida ⓘ Georgia ⓘ Louisiana ⓘ Mississippi ⓘ North Carolina ⓘ Oklahoma ⓘ South Carolina ⓘ Texas ⓘ |
| genus | Alligator ⓘ |
| habitat |
bayous
ⓘ
freshwater wetlands ⓘ lakes ⓘ man-made canals ⓘ marshes ⓘ ponds ⓘ rivers ⓘ swamps ⓘ |
| hasArmor | bony osteoderms ⓘ |
| kingdom | Animalia ⓘ |
| lifespanInCaptivity | over 60 years ⓘ |
| lifespanInWild | 35 to 50 years ⓘ |
| locomotion |
high walk
ⓘ
quadrupedal walking ⓘ short bursts of running ⓘ swimming ⓘ |
| maximumRecordedLength | about 4.6 meters ⓘ |
| nativeTo |
United States of America
ⓘ
surface form:
United States
Southern United States ⓘ
surface form:
southeastern United States
|
| nestType | vegetation mound ⓘ |
| order | Crocodilia ⓘ |
| parentalCare |
females assist hatchlings to water
ⓘ
females guard nests ⓘ |
| phylum | Chordata ⓘ |
| previousConservationStatus | endangered in mid-20th century ⓘ |
| preysOn |
amphibians
ⓘ
birds ⓘ fish ⓘ invertebrates ⓘ mammals ⓘ reptiles ⓘ |
| protectedBy |
U.S. Endangered Species Act
ⓘ
surface form:
U.S. Endangered Species Act (historically)
state wildlife regulations ⓘ |
| reproduction | oviparous ⓘ |
| roleInEcosystem | creates alligator holes that provide habitat for other species ⓘ |
| sexDeterminationDetail |
higher nest temperatures tend to produce males
ⓘ
lower nest temperatures tend to produce females ⓘ |
| sexualDimorphism | males larger than females ⓘ |
| skinType | scaly ⓘ |
| taxonRank | species ⓘ |
| temperatureDependentSexDetermination | yes ⓘ |
| threats |
habitat loss
ⓘ
illegal hunting ⓘ |
| vocalization |
bellows
ⓘ
grunts ⓘ hisses ⓘ |
| yearDescribed | 1802 ⓘ |
Referenced by (6)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
this entity surface form:
Alligator mississippiensis
subject surface form:
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge