American alligator

American alligator Temporal range: 8–0 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N Miocene – Recent
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scienteefic clessification
Kinrick:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Cless:	Reptilia
Order:	Crocodylia
Faimily:	Alligatoridae
Genus:	Alligator
Species:	A. mississippiensis
Binomial name
Alligator mississippiensis (Daudin, 1802 [oreeginally Crocodilus])
Approximate range of American Alligator
Synonyms
Crocodilus mississipiensis Daudin, 1802

The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), whiles referred tae colloquially as a gator or common alligator, is a lairge crocodilian reptile endemic tae the sootheastren Unitit States. It is ane o twa livin species in the genus Alligator within the faimily Alligatoridae; it is lairger nor the ither extant alligator species, the Cheenese alligator. Adult male American alligators meisur 3.4 tae 4.6 m (11 tae 15 ft) in lenth, an can weigh up tae 453 kg (1,000 lb). Females are smawer, meisurin around 3 m (9.8 ft). The American alligator indwalls freshwatter wetlands, such as marshes an cypress swamps frae Texas tae North Carolina. It is distinguished frae the sympatric American crocodile bi its broader snout, wi owerlappin jaws an darker colouration, an is less tolerant o sautwatter but mair tolerant o cuiler climates nor the American crocodile, which is foond anly in tropical climates.