Alligators are large lizard-like reptiles in the order Crocodilia.
The dictionary definition of a crocodilian is as follows. (a large predatory semiaquatic reptile of an order that comprises the crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gharial. Crocodilians are distinguished by long jaws, short legs, and a powerful tail.)
Alligators inhabit humid subtropical zones in the United States, Northern Mexico, and China.
In the following paragraphs, we’ll pose and answer some commonly asked alligator questions.
Where Do Alligators Live?
There are two extant species of alligator. Of these, the first is the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) The second is the Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis)
The American Alligator lives in the southeastern United States from Florida to Texas in the west. The northern boundary of their range is southeastern Oklahoma in the west and northern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia.
Where Do American Alligators Live?
The table below illustrates where American Alligators live within the United States.
| Florida | Florida is home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators. Consequently, that translates into more than 22 of them per square mile. |
| Georgia | According to the Georgia department of natural resources, there are between 200,000 and 250,000 alligators in the state. |
| South Carolina | There are historical estimates that South Carolina has had as many as 100,000 alligators. However, no count has been made on them in a long time. Consequently, wildlife officials aren’t sure how many gators they actually have. |
| North Carolina | There are an estimated 750 Alligators living in North Carolina. |
| Virginia | Officially there aren’t any alligators living in Virginia. However, gators are occasionally sited in Dismal swamp, which is in the extreme southeast portion of the state. Additionally, alligators are occasionally sited around Virginia beach. |
| Louisiana | Louisiana has more than 2 million alligators |
| Alabama | Wildlife officials in Alabama don’t have a firm count on their gator population. However, they estimate it to be as high as 70,000 |
| Mississippi | According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, there are 32,000 to 38,000 Alligators in the state. |
| Arkansas | Arkansas has 2,000 to 3,000 Alligators |
| Oklahoma | The alligator population in Oklahoma is very small, and they only live in the extreme southeastern corner of the state. This is due to the fact that other areas of the state are too cold for them to survive. |
| Texas | Texas has over 500,000 Alligators. |
Where Do Chinese Alligators Live?
As the name suggests, they live in China. The Chinese government raises thousands of Chinese alligators in captivity. However, they are almost extinct in the wild. This is due to the fact that the vast majority of their former habitat along the Yangtze River is now being used to grow rice.
The majority of the few hundred wild Chinese Alligators that remain live in the Anhui province of eastern China. Within Anhui, most of them live within the boundaries of an area that the Chinese government has designated the Alligator sinensis Nature Reserve.
Additionally, there are some alligators living in the province of Zhejiang, which borders Anhui.
Do Alligators Live In Saltwater?
The following quote is from Alligator vs Crocodile the Differences and Similarities.
“Alligators are freshwater animals. Some alligators go to the ocean to hunt for food. They can survive at sea for up to a couple of days, but they have to return to freshwater. This is because their bodies aren’t equipped to live in a salty environment. If they take in too much saltwater, the sodium chloride concentration in their blood will become too great. This, in turn, will cause water to be drawn from their cells to compensate for the created imbalance. They will eventually die of dehydration.
When alligators hunt in saltwater environments, they utilize a protective valve at the back of their throat called a glottis to keep them from swallowing saltwater. They also have protective valves in their nostrils and ears to help keep the water out during dives.
Additionally, when they swallow food that they’ve caught, they have to raise their heads out of the water to avoid taking in too much saltwater.
On the other hand, Crocodiles are at home in either salt or freshwater environments. They have specially adapted salt glands in their mouths. This is manifested by pores at the back of their tongues that excrete excess sodium and chloride from their bloodstream. This allows them to maintain the ideal salt to water balance in their bodies”.
How Big Do Alligators Get?
The chart below only denotes the average size these animals attain. With that in mind, I’ll mention that the largest American alligator ever caught was nineteen feet and two inches long.
| Alligators | Alligator Size |
|---|---|
| American Alligator | American Alligators can attain lengths of 11 to15 feet and weigh up to 1000 lbs. |
| Chinese Alligators | Chinese Alligators can attain lengths 5 to 7 feet and weigh up to 80-100 lbs. Source |
Are Alligators Or Crocodiles Bigger?
The following quote and table are from Comparing Alligators To Crocodiles. ” There are size variations between the 14 species of crocodiles. There are Crocodile species that are much larger than alligators. On the other hand, some crocodile species are smaller than the American Alligator and are even smaller than the Chinese Alligator.”
| Crocodiles | Crocodile Size |
|---|---|
| Salt Water Crocodile | Saltwater crocodiles are the largest extant reptile. Males can be up to 6 m (20ft) long and weigh 2200 to 2900 lbs. An Australian government-sponsored study has concluded that there are specimens out there that are up to 23 ft. long and weigh over 4,000 pounds. |
| Nile Crocodile | Nile Crocodiles Are the second largest crocodilian species behind Salt Water Crocodiles. On average, they weigh around 1100 pounds and are 12 feet long. However, they have the potential to be over 20 ft. long and weigh over a ton. |
| American Crocodile | Male American Crocodiles can be up to 20 ft in length and weigh up to a ton. On average, though, they are 9 to 13 ft. in length. Females are up to 12 1/2 ft in length. |
| Orinoco Crocodiles | Male Orinoco Crocodile specimens have been recorded over 22 ft in length in the past. In today’s environment, they don’t live long enough to attain such huge sizes. Today, you would expect a large Orinoco Crocodile male to measure 13 1/2 to 17 ft and weigh up to 840 lbs. |
| Mugger Crocodile | The average size for a male Mugger Crocodile is 3 m (10 ft). Some specimens can be quite a bit larger. Old Mugger Crocodile males can be up to 4 1/2 m (18 ft) long and weigh 450 kg (1000 lb) |
| African Dwarf Crocodile | African Dwarf Crocodiles are the smallest extant crocodile species. On average, they are 1 1/2 m (4.9 ft) in length. The maximum recorded length was 6.2 ft. The Largest African Dwarf Crocodile adult males weigh in at 80 kg (180 lb). |
| Fresh Water Crocodile | Male Freshwater Crocodiles can attain lengths of 7 1/2 to 10 ft (2.3 to 3 m). Female freshwater crocodiles reach a maximum length of 6.9 ft (2.1 m) |
| Cuban Crocodile | Cuban Crocodiles grow up to 10 1/2 ft (3.5 m) long. |
| Morelet’s Crocodile | Adult Morlete’s Crocodiles can attain a length of about 3 m (10 ft) |
| Siamese Crocodile | Large Siamese Crocodile males reach a maximum of about 4 m (13 ft) in length and weigh up to 350 kg (770 lb). Females measure up to 3.2 m (10 ft) and weigh up to 150 kg (330 lb). |
| Philippine Crocodile | Philippine Crocodile males grow up to 3 m (10ft), and females are smaller. |
| African Slender Snouted Crocodile | Slender Snouted Crocodiles are divided into two distinct species. The West African slender-snouted crocodile and the Central African slender-snouted crocodile. The data we’re using on these animals comes from the Oregon zoo. They attain lengths of up to 13 ft. long and weigh up to 500 lbs. |
| New Guinea Crocodile | The New Guinea crocodile males grow up to 3 m (11 ft) in length. Females get up to 2.7 m (8.9ft). |
| West African Crocodile | Adult West African Crocodiles range from 1.5 -2.5 m (5-8 ft) long. In the extreme, they can get up to 4 m (13 ft.) long. |
How Long Do Alligators Live?
The average life expectancy of an American Alligator is 50 years. Source On the other hand, A Chinese Alligator can live up to 70 years. Source
How Often Do Alligators Eat?
The following is from Comparing Alligators To Crocodiles.
” Alligators usually feed once a week, but like crocodiles, in adverse conditions, they’re capable of going over a year without eating.
How Fast Can Alligators Run And Swim ?
Alligators can run 11 miles per hour or (18kph). Additionally, they can swim up to 20 miles per hour or (32kph)
Do Alligators Attack People?
American Alligators are not as inclined to be aggressive towards humans as crocodiles are. However, they do occasionally attack people.
A study completed in 2010 looked at reports of adverse encounters between humans and American Alligators from 1928 through January 1st, 2009. In those 81 years, it found that there had been 567 alligator on human attacks—twenty-four of those resulted in fatalities.
There are no recorded instances of Chinese Alligators attacking humans.
Do Alligators Hibernate?
Alligators do not hibernate. In the winter, alligators brumate. Brumation differs from hibernation in that the animal doesn’t sleep. Instead, they slow their metabolism way down, and they don’t eat. They continue to drink, though. Due to the colder temperatures, they spend most of their time underground. However, on sunny days, they’ll emerge from their burrows to bask in the sun”.
