The American alligator has a large, dark, slightly rounded body and thick limbs.
The alligator uses its powerful tail to propel itself through water. While alligators move very quickly in water, they are generally slow-moving on land. They can, however, move quickly for short distances. Alligators are a keystone species benefiting the marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes where they live and many other species found within their natural community.
Crocodiles are gray-green or olive-green. There are a few visible differences between alligators and crocodiles. Crocodiles have slender snouts, while alligators’ are broader. When their mouths are closed, the large, fourth tooth in the lower jaw of an alligator fits into a socket in the upper jaw and is not visible, while the fourth tooth on the bottom jaw of the crocodile is visible.
The American alligator is a stunning example of a species that has fully recovered in large part due to protections provided by the Endangered Species Act. By conserving habitat and strictly controlling hunting and trade, we have been able to increase the population to the point where sustainable harvest programs provide economic incentives to conserve alligators and their aquatic habitats.
Defenders' Impact
Defenders fights to defend the Endangered Species Act, which was vital in bringing the alligator back from the brink of extinction, and the Clean Water Act, which protects wetlands and waterways that are important for alligators and crocodiles. We also work to protect habitat through partnering on the Everglades Restoration Act, protecting national wildlife refuges and national parks, and engaging in state-level environmental planning.
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Threats
Once hunted intensively for their hides, today, loss of habitat to human development, illegal killing and roadkill are the greatest threats faced by alligators and crocodiles. As sea level rises due to climate change, a significant portion of freshwater habitats may face saltwater incursion or inundation.
Protection Status
Endangered Species Act | IUCN Red List | CITES |
| Threatened | Vulnerable | Appendix I |
delisted (alligator) andthreatened in the US, endangered elsewhere (crocodile) | least concern (alligator) and vulnerable (crocodile) |
What You Can Do
Help fight climate change by reducing emissions. Support habitat protections, especially for areas vulnerable because of climate change and sea level rise.Support Defenders work in protecting the Endangered Species Act
Facts
Latin Name
Alligator mississippiensi, Crocodylus acutus
Size
Alligators and crocodiles are 10-15 feet and up to 1,000 pounds full-grown, with females smaller than males
Lifespan
30–50 years for alligators and 60-70 years for crocodiles
Range/Habitat
South Florida is the only place where you can find both crocodiles and alligators.
American alligators occur in Florida, southern Texas, Louisiana and parts of North and South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, with the alligator’s range appearing to inch northward in the last few years. American crocodiles are found in southern Florida, the Caribbean, southern Mexico and along the Central American coast south to Venezuela. Both are found in freshwater wetland areas.
Population
An estimated 5 million American alligators are spread out across the southeastern United States. Roughly 1.25 million alligators live in the state of Florida. There are more than 1,000 American crocodiles, not including hatchlings, in Florida.
Behavior
Large male alligators are solitary, territorial animals. The largest males and females will defend prime territory. Smaller alligators can often be found in large numbers in close proximity to each other, because smaller alligators have a higher tolerance of other alligators within a similar size class. Decidedly less aggressive than the infamous Nile and Australian crocodiles, American crocodiles are shy, reclusive and rarely seen by people.
Reproduction
Alligators
Eggs generally hatch in mid-August. Sex is temperature-determined, like sea turtles, based on the temperature of egg incubation, with temperatures of 86°F producing females, and 93°F yielding males.
Mating Season: Mid-April through May
Gestation: 60-65 day egg incubation
Clutch size: 20-50 eggs
Crocodiles
In April or May, the female crocodile will build a nest of loose dirt in a mound by the water's edge and lay her eggs. She buries the eggs and fiercely guards her nest. When the eggs hatch in July or early August, the female helps carry her young to the water. But, unlike the alligator, she will not continue to care for her young.
Mating Season: January and February
Gestation: 2-3 month egg incubation
Clutch size: 35-50 eggs
Diet
Alligators and crocodiles eat fish, turtles, various mammals, birds and other reptiles.
News
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Washington, DC
Okefenokee Protection Alliance Named Advocate of the Year for Refuge Advocacy
After six years of guarding its namesake wetlands, the Okefenokee Protection Alliance has been named 2024’s Refuge Advocate of the Year by the National Wildlife
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American Crocodile and Alligator Blog Posts
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A Journey Through the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
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Happy 50th Anniversary to the Endangered Species Act!
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Why We Almost Said “See You Later” to the American Alligator
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Locations
Southeast
Related Issues
Combating Climate Change
Read More About the American Crocodile and Alligator
Wildlife Nation Episode 18: Remarkable Reptiles
Wildlife Nation Episode 4: Crocs and Corals
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