[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] Newly hatched Alligator mississippienis showing typical juvenile colouration
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] Juvenile alligator (2 years) displaying an open-mouthed threat
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] Adult female alligator (9 years) basking in an outdoor exhibit
| DISTRIBUTION IN WILD Southeastern United States, specifically Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas
NATURAL HABITAT A. mississippiensis is ubiquitous in freshwater habitats including lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, swamps and marshland. Although it has poor tolerance to salinity, individuals occasionally venture into brackish water for short periods. During periods of drought, they migrate overland looking for freshwater. This often brings them into conflict with humans as they take shelter in swimming pools and garden spas.
STATUS IN WILD A. mississippiensis is quite secure in the wild. There are well over a million animals in stronghold states like Florida and Louisiana, and there is clearly no immediate threat to the wild population. A. mississippiensis is listed on CITES Appendix II due to similarity of appearance to more endangered species.
AVERAGE ADULT SIZE Males can reach 12 to 14.5 feet (3.7 to 4.4 m), females can reach 7 to 10 feet (2.1 to 3.0 m). Growth rates vary with temperature and food intake, but at least 1 to 2 feet per year when young.
SUITABILITY AS CAPTIVES A. mississippiensis can make good captives when young, but the main issue is their rapid growth rates and large adult sizes which makes them expensive to house and very difficult to handle without suitable experience. Alligators are often described as relatively docile, but that description is misleading and temperament is highly docile. Many individuals remain boisterous and, at larger sizes, very difficult to handle. They are not recommended for those without experience.
SPECIFIC HUSBANDRY There are now healthy populations of alligators in most of the southern United States within their range. Captive farming is big business, and hence hatchlings are commonly made available to the pet trade. Cute baby alligators have been popular as unusual pets for many years, yet in virtually all cases the owners end up disposing of their gator when it starts to exceed their ability to keep it. American alligators are a fairly large and fast growing species - on average if given the right conditions, temperature and space, they increase in length by around 50 cm (1.5 feet) each year for the first few years, and adult males can reach 3.5 to 4.0 metres (12 to 13 feet) in 15 to 20 years. Farm raised gators, fed intensively, can attain higher growth rates (e.g. 1.75 m / 5.7 ft after 2 years). They do have the advantage of being one of the more docile crocodilian species - some individuals becoming relatively tame with a lot of work. However, they are not considered suitable as captives for the majority of keepers because of their large size and therefore the considerable expense required to house them.
FURTHER INFORMATION [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] to read the Crocodilian Species List entry for A. mississippiensis |