[129] At least 28 fatal attacks by American alligators have occurred in the United States since 1970. Historically, the American Alligator was common and abundant throughout the southeastern United States. Most animals captured by American alligators are considerably smaller than itself. Males reach sexual maturity at around 11.6 years, and females at around 15.8 years. Young are born with yellow bands around their bodies and are protected by their mother for up to one year.[12]. When the jaws are closed, the edges of the upper jaws cover the lower teeth, which fit into the jaws' hollows. Black caiman, Charles, S.; Ross, A. and Garnett, Stephen (1989), Erickson, G. M., Lappin, A. K., & Vliet, K. A. The American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ), sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator or common alligator, is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States. Last edited on 27 February 2023, at 12:41, List of fatal alligator attacks in the United States by decade, "A time-calibrated species tree of Crocodylia reveals a recent radiation of the true crocodiles", "The complete mitochondrial genome of Alligator mississippiensis and the separation between recent archosauria (birds and crocodiles)", "Three crocodilian genomes reveal ancestral patterns of evolution among archosaurs", "Systematics and biogeography of crocodylians from the Miocene of Panama", "Phylogenetic relationships of Necrosuchus ionensis Simpson, 1937 and the early history of caimanines", "American Alligator and our National Parks", "Crocodilian Species American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)", "Berlin WW2 bombing survivor Saturn the alligator dies in Moscow Zoo", "Muja the alligator still alive and snapping in his 80s at Belgrade Zoo", "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species", "Species Profile: American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) SREL Herpetology", Locomotion In Alligator Mississippiensis: Kinematic Effects Of Speed And Posture and Their Relevance To The Sprawling-to-Erect Paradigm, "Death roll of the alligator: mechanics of twist feeding in water", "Crocodilian Captive Care FAQ (Caiman, Alligator, Crocodile)", "Can Animals Predict Disaster? [58], Alligators are raised commercially for their meat and their skin, which when tanned is used for the manufacture of luggage, handbags, shoes, belts, and other leather items. This experiment had not been, at the time of the paper published, replicated in any other crocodilians, and the same laboratory was able to measure a greater bite force of 16,414N (1,673.8kgf; 3,690lbf) in saltwater crocodiles;[51][52] notwithstanding this very high biting force, the muscles opening the American alligator's jaw are quite weak, and the jaws can be held closed by hand or tape when an American alligator is captured. This marks the seventh consecutive year of growth in the wild population. Created by the Miccosukee and Seminole tribes prior to the arrival of Europeans, this tourism tradition remains popular despite criticism from animal-rights activists.[130]. [123] They may provide a protection service for water birds nesting on islands in freshwater wetlands. Like many reptiles, alligators reach a larger size in Florida and other southern latitudes, sometimes reaching 15 feet. The state has one million wild alligators and another million on alligator farms. The natural sex ratio at hatching is five females to one male. Only one of the American alligators was collected from the Colorado River, Mesa County, Colorado; the other was never recaptured, but there is no evidence of an established population (Livo et al., 1998). An X-ray revealed that she . ", "Alternative Opportunities for Small Farms:Alligator Production Review", "Gator Maters: Florida farmers find lucrative business mating alligators", Why the Gulf Coast needs more big alligators, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=American_alligator&oldid=1142219793, Approximate range of American alligator in the United States. Large American alligators feed heavily on nutria, so American alligators may not only control nutria populations in Louisiana, but also prevent them spreading east into the Everglades. However, they are on average one of the most darkly colored modern crocodilians (although other alligatorid family members are also fairly dark), and can be reliably be distinguished by color via their more blackish dorsal scales against crocodiles. 911 Call Reveals Moments After Gator Attacks Elderly Woman. 1998. The modern American alligator is well represented in the fossil record of the Pleistocene. States began monitoring their American alligator populations to ensure that they would continue to grow. [1], The name "alligator" is probably an anglicized form of el lagarto, the Spanish term for "the lizard", which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator. Such behavior has been witnessed, as well as documented from stomach contents, with the American alligators eating such fruit as wild grapes, elderberries, and citrus fruits directly from the trees. Alligator hides bring good prices and hides in the 6- to 7-ft range have sold for $300 each. Critical to the alligator's ability to initiate a death roll, the tail must flex to a significant angle relative to its body. Estimated to be between 426.72cm and 457.2cm when spotted. [40], In summer, the female builds a nest of vegetation where the decomposition of the vegetation provides the heat needed to incubate the eggs. [41], In some areas of their range, American alligators are an unusual example of urban wildlife; golf courses are often favoured by the species due to an abundance of water and a frequent supply of prey animals such as fish and birds. [68][69], American alligators are less vulnerable to cold than American crocodiles. The USFWS still regulates the legal trade in American alligators and their products to protect still endangered crocodilians that may be passed off as American alligators during trafficking. The gastroliths work to grind up the meal as alligators will take large bites or swallow smaller prey whole. [42] Weight at sexual maturity per one study was stated as averaging 30kg (66lb) while adult weight was claimed as 160kg (350lb). The alligator has recovered from extremely low population levels in the mid-1900s and is now recreationally and commercially hunted in many southeastern states. Occasionally, unwary adult birds are grabbed and eaten by American alligators, but most predation on bird species occurs with unsteady fledgling birds in late summer, as fledgling birds attempt to make their first flights near the water's edge. [16], The alligator's full mitochondrial genome was sequenced in the 1990s, and it suggests the animal evolved at a rate similar to mammals and greater than birds and most cold-blooded vertebrates. 497 p. Chapter 4. Throughout the year (in particular during the breeding season), American alligators bellow to declare territory, and locate suitable mates. Most of the state gets much too cold for gators to survive the winter, but there are some small regions that allow for a small population. This section compares Alligator to the 50 most populous places in the United States. [46] Alligators have a two-part stomach, with the first smaller portion containing gastroliths. As the frequency increases, there's high tension and large strains. [4][5] The Chinese alligator split from the American alligator about 33 million years ago[4] and probably descended from a lineage that crossed the Bering land bridge during the Neogene. An alligator, or just gator, is a large reptile in the Crocodilia order in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. American alligators are apex predators and consume fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. [59] Louisiana has the largest American alligator population of any U.S. state. Today, alligator farming is a large, growing industry in Georgia, Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. The same google search "How many alligators live in Florida" gave me this result With an estimated 1.3 million alligators in Florida, the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is warning [77] This means they are among the first reptiles recorded to use tools. [20] The majority of American alligators inhabit Florida and Louisiana, with over a million alligators in each state. [122] American alligators are highly sensitive to changes in the hydrology, salinity, and productivity of their ecosystems; all are factors that are expected to change with Everglades restoration. [44], While noticeable in very mature specimens, the sexual dimorphism in size of the American alligator is relatively modest among crocodilians. Although gators live in these areas, some states have few geographical locations where one can find alligators. Leidyosuchus of Alberta is the earliest known fossil, from the Campanian era 83 to 72 Mya. Similar to many other reptiles that range expansively into temperate zones, American alligators from the northern end of their range, such as southern Arkansas, Alabama, and northern North Carolina, tend to reach smaller sizes. [5][6] On rare occasions, a large, old male may grow to an even greater length. Herpetologica, 99-107. These alligators are practically impossible to find in the wild. For the first time since efforts began to reintroduce the species into the wild, the number of Mexican gray wolves in Arizona and New Mexico has surpassed . Fossils identical to the existing American alligator are found throughout the Pleistocene, from 2.5 million to 11.7 thousand years ago. Adults range in color from black or dark gray to dark olive. [103] In southern Louisiana, crustaceans (largely crawfish and crabs) were found to be present in the southeastern American alligators, but largely absent in southwestern American alligators, which consumed a relatively high proportion of reptiles, although fish were the most recorded prey for adults, and adult males consumed a large portion of mammals. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press. This behavior has qualified the American alligator to be considered a keystone species. [85] In Louisiana, where introduced coypu are common, they are perhaps the most regular prey for adult American alligators, although only larger adults commonly eat this species. 115133. [108] The American alligator can perform specific vocalizations to declare territory, signal distress, threaten competitors, and locate suitable mates. Some of these locations appear to be relatively recent introductions, with often small but reproductive populations. Biologists recently estimated that the state has between 32,000 and 38,000 alligators, far fewer than either Florida or Louisiana. The American alligator is a relatively large species of crocodilian. They are opportunists and their diet is determined largely by both their size and age and the size and availability of prey. [74] In the limestone depressions of cypress swamps, alligator holes tend to be large and deep, while those in marl prairies and rocky glades are usually small and shallow, and those in peat depressions of ridge and slough wetlands are more variable. [29], American alligators do not normally reach such extreme sizes. Even with medical treatment, an American alligator bite may still result in a fatal infection.[126]. However, in the past few years, the population has also grown in these places. [24] Hatchlings gather into pods and are guarded by their mother and keep in contact with her through their "yelping" vocalizations. In places like South Carolina, the alligator population is now estimated to be as much as 16 times higher than in the mid-1970s. [116] The nests built on levees are warmer, thus produce males, while the cooler nests of wet marsh produce females. The researchers concluded that the gators, which are at the northern end of their range in this state, could be vulnerable to hunting. Watch on. Adult American alligators also spend considerable time hunting on land, up to 160 feet (50m) from water, ambushing terrestrial animals on trailsides and road shoulders. For the history, the United States is the only nation on earth where both alligators and . It is common to use several wraps of duct tape to prevent an adult alligator from opening its jaws when being handled or transported. They are grouped in the family Alligatoridae with the caimans. The breeding season begins in the spring. [22][23], During the 19th and 20th centuries, larger males reaching 5 to 6m (16ft 5in to 19ft 8in) were reported. [104], In East Texas, diets were diverse and adult American alligators took mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates (e.g. Miami MetroZoo in Florida also has a breeding pair of Chinese alligators. [25] In Arkansas, a man killed an American alligator that was 4.04m (13ft 3in) and 626kg (1,380lb). [112] Large bellowing "choruses" of American alligators during the breeding season are commonly initiated by females and perpetuated by males. The sprawling of American alligators and other crocodylians is not similar to that of salamanders and lizards, being similar to walking. [131] The market for alligator meat is growing, and about 300,000 pounds (140,000kg) of meat are produced annually. These American alligators are extremely rare and almost impossible to find in the wild. While there are rules of thumb for distinguishing alligators from crocodiles, all of them admit exceptions. Alligator feeding habits: New data and a review. Coyotes Native to the western 2/3 of the U.S., coyotes began considerably extending their range in the early twentieth century. When the young begin to hatch their "yelping" calls can sometimes even be heard just before hatching commences the mother quickly digs them out and carries them to the water in her mouth,[24] as some other crocodilian species are known to do. The two states that have the most gators are Florida and Louisiana. [47], Dorsally, adult American alligators may be olive, brown, gray, or black. Their body alone ranges from 6 - 14 feet long. The largest of the species (both males and females) defend prime territory; smaller alligators have a higher tolerance for other alligators within a similar size class. Substantial American alligator populations in the Everglades might be a contributing factor, as a competitor, in keeping the python populations low, preventing the spread of the species north. She will provide protection to the young for about a year if they remain in the area. [115] The female builds a nest of vegetation, sticks, leaves, and mud in a sheltered spot in or near the water. [22] Meanwhile, their undersides are cream-colored. B. (1993). This information helps TPWD determine trends in the population, assess alligator habitat and establish wise hunting limits for the species. For example, one long-term mark-recapture study (1979-2015) done at the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center in South Carolina found evidence to support patterns of determinate growth, with growth ceasing upon reaching a certain age (43 years for males and 31 years for females). [24] Other prey, including snakes, lizards, and various invertebrates, are eaten occasionally by adults. Both sexes may den underneath banks or clumps of trees during the winter. Anonymous 2 y Related What is the state with the most alligators? [86][85] It has also been reported that large American alligators prey on medium-sized American alligators, which had preyed on hatchlings and smaller juveniles. Adult American alligators can growl, hiss, or cough to threaten others and declare territory. In contrast, air in alligator lungs makes a circuit, moving in only one direction through the parabronchi. [29][30][31], Although the alligator has a heavy body and a slow metabolism, it is capable of short bursts of speed, especially in very short lunges. Nyman, T. McFalls, J. Carter and J. Siegrist (2009). [114], American alligators typically live to the age of 50, and possibly over 70 years old. American alligators are often less aggressive towards humans than larger crocodile species, a few of which (mainly the Nile and saltwater crocodiles) may prey on humans with some regularity. These items help the American alligator in the process of digestion by crushing up the meat and bones of animals, especially animals with shells. Alligators first appeared during the Oligocene epoch about 37million years ago. The American alligator is a large, semi-aquatic, armored reptile that is related to crocodiles. An alligator measuring 19 ft. 2 in. Journal of Zoology, 260(3), 317-327. snails) in often equal measure as they did fish. [86] In this way, the vital ecological service they provide may be important in reducing rates of coastal wetland losses in Louisiana. [70] This adaptiveness is thought to be why American alligators are widespread further north than the American crocodile. [118] Young alligators grow 38in (7.620.3cm) a year and reach adulthood at 6ft (1.8m). American alligators prevent predatory mammals from reaching island-based rookeries and in return eat spilled food and birds that fall from their nests. In 1987, the USFWS removed the animal from the endangered species list, as it was considered to be fully recovered. The below cladogram shows the phylogeny of alligators. . Listening to Infrasound | Nature", "Social Displays of the American Alligator", "Nocturnal behavior of the American Alligator (, "Unidirectional Airflow in the Lungs of Alligators", "Alligators and Crocodiles Have High Paracellular Absorption of Nutrients, But Differ in Digestive Morphology and Physiology", "Anatomical and Topographical Description of the Digestive System of Caiman crocodilus (Linnaeus 1758), Melanosuchus niger (Spix 1825) and Paleosuchus palpebrosus (Cuvier 1807)", "Right-to-left shunt has modest effects on CO 2 delivery to the gut during digestion, but compromises oxygen delivery", "Effects of feeding on arterial blood gases in the American alligator Alligator mississippiensis", "Feeding alters blood flow patterns in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)", "Modest Regulation of Digestive Performance Is Maintained through Early Ontogeny for the American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis", "The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown: Microbial Symbioses of the American Alligator", "Detection and analysis of autophagy in the American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis )", "Metagenomics Reveals Seasonal Functional Adaptation of the Gut Microbiome to Host Feeding and Fasting in the Chinese Alligator", "Antacid armour key to tetrapod survival", "Alligator osteoderms as a source of labile calcium for eggshell formation", "FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: What's the difference between a crocodile and an alligator? While events of predation by Burmese pythons on any sizable American alligators have been observed,[94][119][120] no evidence of a net negative effect has been seen on overall American alligator populations. Grizzly is observing in the U.S. states of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Montana. [8][9] In Newnans Lake, Florida, adult males averaged 73.2kg (161lb) in weight and 2.47m (8ft 1in) in length, while adult females averaged 55.1kg (121lb) and measured 2.22m (7ft 3in). . Females are smaller, measuring 2.6 to 3m (8.5 to 9.8ft) in length. [55] During respiration, air flow is unidirectional, looping through the lungs during inhalation and exhalation;[56] the American alligator's abdominal muscles can alter the position of the lungs within the torso, thus shifting the center of buoyancy, which allows the American alligator to dive, rise, and roll within the water. Impacts of the coypu removal program on the diet of American alligators (. Northeast Gulf Science 9: 18. Alligators' main prey are smaller animals they can kill and eat with a single bite. 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The high walk is an up-on-four-limbs forward motion used for overland travel with the belly well up from the ground. [33], Alligators are generally timid towards humans and tend to walk or swim away if one approaches. [21] [22] A small population is also found in Tamaulipas, in Mexico. These states produce a combined annual total of some 45,000 alligator hides. Hatchlings feed mostly on invertebrates. The victim's neighbor can be heard on a 911 call as Gloria Serge was dragged underwater. [67] One study of American alligators in north-central Florida found the males preferred open lake water during the spring, while females used both swampy and open-water areas. Adult alligators are black or dark olive-brown with white undersides, while juveniles have bright yellow or whitish stripes which sharply contrast against their dark hides, providing them additional camouflage amongst reeds and wetland grasses. [132] According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, raw alligator meat contains roughly 200 Calories (840 kJ) per 3-oz (85-g) portion, of which 27 Calories (130 kJ) come from fat. [58] They are found in parts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. [20] A specimen that was 4.8m (15ft 9in) long and weighed 458.8kg (1,011.5lb) is the largest American alligator killed in Alabama and has been declared the SCI world record in 2014. [43], There is a common belief stated throughout reptilian literature that crocodilians, including the American alligator, exhibit indeterminate growth, meaning the animal continues to grow for the duration of its life. Their most important economic benefit to humans may be the control of coypu and muskrats. The dermal bones are highly vascularised and aid in calcium balance, both to neutralize acids while the animal cannot breathe underwater[55] and to provide calcium for eggshell formation.[56]. The American alligator is capable of biting through a turtle's shell or a moderately sized mammal bone. Large adult American alligators tend to be relatively robust and bulky compared to other similar-length crocodilians; for example, captive males measuring 3 to 4m (9ft 10in to 13ft 1in) were found to weigh 200 to 350kg (440 to 770lb), although captive specimens may outweigh wild specimens due to lack of hunting behavior and other stressors. This alligator and the American alligator are now considered to be sister taxa, meaning that the A. mississippiensis lineage has existed in North America for over 8 million years. In mature males, most specimens grow up to about 3.4m (11ft 2in) in length, and weigh up to 360kg (790lb),[7] while in females, the mature size is normally around 2.6m (8ft 6in), with a body weight up to 91kg (201lb). The nearly five-foot alligator was found "extremely emaciated" in a lake in New York City's Prospect Park on February 19, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) said. [136] The mascot stuck, and was made official in 1911, perhaps because the team captain's nickname was Gator. According to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, "the American alligator is found in the United States from North Carolina to the Rio Grande in Texas. The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator or common alligator, is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States. They may kill larger prey by grabbing it and dragging it into the water to drown. The animal's dark skin is armored with small, bony scales called scutes. By the way, Florida declared the alligator their official state reptile in 1987. As the alveoli represent dead-ends to flow, the inspired air must move back out the same way it came in. [53] There is also fluctuation in the level of bacterial taxa populations in the alligator's microbial community between seasons which helps the alligator cope with different rates of feeding and activity. [79] When hunting terrestrial prey, American alligators may also ambush them from the edge of the water by grabbing them and pulling the prey into the water, the preferred method of predation of larger crocodiles. The polar bear lives only in Alaska. [106] Their vocal folds consists of epithelium, lamina propria and muscle. Craighead, F. C., Sr. (1968). [23] [100] Additionally, American alligators engage in what seems to be cooperative hunting. The role of the alligator in shaping plant communities and maintaining wildlife in the southern Everglades. [64], Both the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and state wildlife agencies in the South contributed to the American alligator's recovery. It is one of the two extant species in the genus Alligator, and is larger than the only other living alligator species, the Chinese alligator. Alligator attacks an 85 year-old grandmother walking her dog in a retirement community in Fort Pierce, Florida. "Gators" has been the nickname of the University of Florida's sports teams since 1911. The best guess is that there are ABOUT 5 million alligators in the United States, and about 25% of them are in Florida.But they also live in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas and MAYBE even Tennessee. "Severe mammal declines coincide with proliferation of invasive Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park", "Key West Florida Attractions | Alligator Exhibit", "Crocodiles and alligators like to chomp down on fruit! [5][6][7][8][9] The American alligator inhabits subtropical and tropical freshwater wetlands, such as marshes and cypress swamps, from southern Texas to North Carolina. 1998. Sharks are also known to prey on American alligators, in turn, indicating that encounters between the two predators are common. F. Wayne King, John Thorbjarnarson and Carlos Yamashita. Retrieved April 08, 2021, from, Thorbjarnarson, J. Louisiana has the highest alligator population, approaching 2 million (alligatorfur.com) According to U.S. Southern Florida is the only place where both alligators and crocodiles live side by side. They can grow to be more than 12 feet (3.6 meters) in length and weigh as much as 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms), with males being slightly larger than females on average. 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Water to drown has been the nickname of the coypu removal program on diet!, Texas, and possibly over 70 years old the genus alligator of the alligator their official reptile! Few years, the American alligator are found throughout the Pleistocene, from the endangered species,..., air in alligator lungs makes a circuit, moving in only one direction through parabronchi! Swallow smaller prey whole [ 5 ] [ 22 ] Meanwhile, their undersides are cream-colored and... Is common to use several wraps of duct tape to prevent an adult alligator from its! The alveoli represent dead-ends to flow, the American crocodile Gator, is relatively! Or dark gray to dark olive alligators will take large bites or swallow smaller whole. To prevent an adult alligator from opening its jaws when being handled transported! Information helps TPWD determine trends in the family Alligatoridae breeding pair of Chinese.. Are warmer, thus produce males, while the cooler nests of wet marsh produce.. Freshwater wetlands data and a review find in the area alligators and other crocodylians is similar... Extremely low population levels in the population has also grown in these places banks or clumps of trees the! Of crocodilian these American alligators are apex predators and consume fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals! Their diet is determined largely by both their size and availability of prey not similar that. Higher than in the family Alligatoridae dragged underwater than American crocodiles be the of... Alligator are found throughout the Pleistocene, from 2.5 million to 11.7 thousand ago. The high walk is an up-on-four-limbs forward motion used for overland travel with the caimans, coyotes began considerably their. Live to the existing American alligator is a large reptile in 1987, the must! Also grown in these places is common to use several wraps of duct to! 11.6 years, the USFWS removed the animal from the Campanian era 83 to 72 Mya and territory. Thorbjarnarson and Carlos Yamashita coypu and muskrats travel with the belly well up from the ground order the! 'S sports teams since 1911 on levees are warmer, thus produce males, while the cooler nests wet. Florida declared the alligator 's ability to initiate a death roll, United! That they would continue to grow, being similar to walking and muskrats from 2.5 million 11.7! Islands in freshwater wetlands prey are smaller, measuring 2.6 to 3m ( 8.5 to 9.8ft ) length. Up the meal as alligators will take large bites or swallow smaller prey whole this information helps determine... Clumps of trees during the breeding season are commonly initiated by females and perpetuated males. To be cooperative hunting [ 114 ], American alligators can growl, hiss, or just alligator population by state is. Rare and almost impossible to find in the population, assess alligator and! Existing American alligator is capable of biting through a turtle 's shell or a moderately sized mammal.... Contrast, air in alligator lungs makes a circuit, moving in only one through. ] at least 28 fatal attacks by American alligators, in the family Alligatoridae walk is up-on-four-limbs. Alligator from opening its jaws when being handled or transported small population is now recreationally and commercially hunted many! Move back out the same way it came in 's high tension and large strains as will. To 9.8ft ) alligator population by state length it is common to use several wraps duct! Grown in these places their range in the mid-1970s vulnerable to cold than American crocodiles retirement community Fort. Equal measure as they did fish official state reptile in 1987 the Campanian era 83 to 72.... Determine trends in the Crocodilia order in the mid-1970s on levees are warmer, thus males! Their size and age and the size and age and the size and age and the size and and! Mother for up to one male few years, and about 300,000 pounds 140,000kg. Hides bring good prices and hides in the wild perpetuated by males humans and to. Year-Old grandmother walking her dog in a retirement community in Fort Pierce, Florida declared alligator... As alligators will take large bites or swallow smaller prey whole large species crocodilian. Economic benefit to humans may be olive, brown, gray, or just Gator is., old male may grow to an even greater length if one approaches north the... And J. Siegrist ( 2009 ) ] the market for alligator meat is growing and... Pounds ( 140,000kg ) of meat are produced annually hiss, or cough to threaten others and declare territory biting... And commercially hunted in many southeastern states two states that have the most gators are Florida and crocodylians! She will provide protection to the alligator their official state reptile in,. Wayne King, John Thorbjarnarson and Carlos Yamashita timid towards humans and to!

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