American alligator

Alligator mississippiensis

Zoo Atlanta’s American alligators reside in naturalistic environments in the World of Reptiles solarium and in the Wonderful Wetlands habitat.

Range and habitat

American alligators inhabit freshwater rivers, marshes, lakes and swamps along the Atlantic Coast from North Carolina to Florida and along the Gulf Coast as far west as Texas.

Physical characteristics

• Adult males can reach 13 to 15 feet; females are smaller, reaching lengths of about 10 feet. While rare, significantly larger alligators have been documented at up to 20 feet.

• Alligators have short legs and webbed feet, with five toes on their front feet and four toes on their back feet. Webbed feet aid in swimming and in locomotion through muddy habitats. Large, powerful tails propel the animals effectively through water.

Diet

Alligators are carnivores, feeding primarily on fish, turtles, snakes and small mammals.

Behavior

• While they do not hibernate, alligators enter a dormant state during colder months, resurfacing from hollows or burrows when temperatures return to warmer levels.

• Alligators are highly vocal, and communication begins in the egg! Hatchlings vocalize to alert their mothers that they are preparing to hatch.

Reproduction

• Male alligators are highly territorial, sometimes defending multiple females during breeding season. Males bellow and vibrate their bodies, causing the water around them to dance.

• Adult males construct enlarged areas of water (gator holes) that they defend and use for breeding areas. Not only do these gator holes serve as breeding grounds, but they are also often the only water around during the dry season or droughts.

• Females initiate breeding, typically in late spring. The incubation temperatures of the eggs determine the sex of the young (male offspring typically result from warmer temperatures). Females defend their new hatchlings for about two months. After that time, young alligators are on their own to avoid predation by birds, raccoons and other opportunists.

• Young alligators are easily distinguished by yellow stripes on their tails. Hatchlings develop rapidly, growing approximately one foot for every year of their first few years. Alligators are sexually mature at about 10 years old.

Lifespan

On average, alligators live up to 50 years in the wild and up to 80 years in captive environments, although lifespans of up to 100 years have been recorded.

Status in the wild

• Because of overharvesting for their valuable skin and meat, American alligators were once considered an endangered species. The species has made a comeback since the late 1980s and is no longer considered endangered, but habitat destruction continues to present a threat.

• The American alligator’s endangered cousin, the American crocodile, is native to areas of extreme south Florida.

Alligators in Georgia  

Alligators are native to many parts of coastal and south Georgia. As more and more wetlands habitat is converted for human use, people and alligators may come into contact more frequently.
It is important to remember that these animals are inherently shy and prefer to avoid contact with man.

Don’t feed the alligators! As with any wild animal, alligators should be enjoyed from a safe distance. Individuals that have been conditioned to approach humans for food are not “tame.” Encouraging unnatural associations between people and food creates unnecessarily dangerous scenarios for humans, pets and alligators.

If you have a question about an alligator in your area, please contact Greg Waters, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, at greg.waters@dnr.state.ga.us.