Alligator | Description, Habitat, Size, Diet, & Facts - Britannica

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External Websites

• Live Science - Facts About Alligators
• San Diego Zoo Animals and Plants - Crocodilian
• Animal Corner - Alligator
• PNAS - How alligator armor could offer clues to bone disease
• PNAS - Specialized stem cell niche enables repetitive renewal of alligator teeth
• Agricultural Marketing Resource Center - Alligator
• World Animal Foundation - Alligator � All You Need to know about this Massive Creature
• A-Z Animals - 10 Fascinating Alligator Facts to Take a Bite of
• Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute - How Long Can an Alligator Hold Its Breath? And Other Questions, Answered

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alligator reptile Ask Anything Homework Help Also known as: Alligator Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Jan. 11, 2026 •History Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything Top Questions

• What is an alligator?
• Where do alligators live?
• What do alligators eat?
• How can you tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile?
• How do alligators care for their young?
• What role do alligators play in their ecosystem?

alligator, (genus Alligator), either of two crocodilians related to the tropical American caimans (family Alligatoridae). Alligators, like other crocodilians, are large animals with powerful tails that are used both in defense and in swimming (see also crocodile). Their eyes, ears, and nostrils are placed on top of their long head and project slightly above the water when the reptiles float at the surface, as they often do. Alligators can be differentiated from true crocodiles by the form of their jaw and teeth. Alligators possess a broad U-shaped snout and have an “overbite”; that is, all the teeth of the lower jaw fit within (are lingual to) the teeth of the upper jaw. The large fourth tooth on each side of the alligator’s lower jaw fits into a socket in the upper jaw. Usually, no lower teeth are visible when the mouth is closed. In contrast, true crocodiles have a narrow V-shaped snout, and the large fourth tooth on each side of the lower jaw projects outside the snout when the mouth is closed. Alligators are carnivorous and live along the edges of permanent bodies of water, such as lakes, swamps, and rivers. They commonly dig burrows in which they rest and avoid weather extremes. The average life span of alligators is about 50 years in the wild. However, there have been reports of some specimens living beyond 70 years of age in captivity.

The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), the larger of the two species, is found in the southeastern United States. It is black with yellow banding when young and is generally brownish when adult. The maximum length is about 4.5 metres (15 feet), but it more typically ranges from about 3 to 3.4 metres (9.8 to 11.1 feet). The American alligator has been hunted for its hide, and its young have been sold in large numbers as pets. It disappeared from many areas where it was once abundant and was later given legal protection from hunters until it made an excellent comeback and limited hunting seasons were again established. The adult alligator feeds mainly on fishes, small mammals, and birds but may sometimes take prey as large as deer or cattle. Members of both sexes hiss, and the males also give loud roars that carry over considerable distances. During the breeding season, the female builds a mound nest of detritus and vegetation in which she buries between 35 and 39 hard-shelled eggs on average. She guards the eggs and may at this time be dangerous. Members of this species usually avoid humans.

Related Topics: American alligator Chinese alligator Are Black Caimans Larger Than Alligators? What’s the Difference Between Alligators and Crocodiles? Is an Alligator a Reptile? (Show more) See all related content

The Chinese alligator (A. sinensis) is a much smaller, little-known reptile found in the Yangtze River region of China. It is similar to the larger form but attains a maximum length of about 2.1 metres (7 feet)—although usually growing to 1.5 metres—and is blackish with faint yellowish markings. Fewer than 200 Chinese alligators are thought to remain, and thus the species is considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

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