Alligator mothers guard nests and young.
COMPLETE SPECIES PROFILE
American alligator
Alligator mississippiensis
One species, many connections.
Also known as: gator, Mississippi alligator
WHY IT MATTERS
One species, many connections.
Alligator holes can retain water during dry periods and provide refuge for many wetland organisms.
- Scientific name
- Alligator mississippiensis
- Animal group
- Vertebrate · Reptilia
- Environment
- Freshwater · Coastal
PUBLIC-DOMAIN VISUAL RECORDS
Two additional perspectives
Together with the primary image, these records show behavior and habitat without covering the photographs with labels.
INTERACTIVE TAXONOMY
Interactive classification
Select any rank to understand what the classification means.
DID YOU KNOW?
Curiosities that reveal how it lives
The temperature of the nest influences the sex of hatchlings.
They can create “alligator holes” that hold water in dry seasons.
Only the upper teeth are usually visible when the mouth is closed.
Where it lives
Freshwater wetlands, marshes, swamps, lakes, and slow rivers of the southeastern United States.
How it lives
Fish, turtles, birds, mammals, and other available prey, changing with age and size.
Key adaptations
Armored skin, strong jaws, sensory organs around the snout, and the ability to regulate temperature behaviorally.
Its connections
Alligator holes can retain water during dry periods and provide refuge for many wetland organisms.
Pressures and protection
Wetland loss, road mortality, illegal feeding, conflict with people, and water-management changes.