AMERICAN ALLIGATOR

1. AMERICAN ALLIGATOR By: Tristin

2. Physical Characteristics • The American Alligator can be up to 18 feet long, but females are smaller. • It can weigh 450-600 pounds; however females are smaller . • The American Alligator’s color can be green, brown, and black.

3. Lifespan • The American Alligator can live 35-50 years in the wild. • They can live 60-80 years in captivity like at a zoo or animal reserve.

4. Diet • The American Alligator is a carnivore. That means it eats meat. • The American Alligator eats fish, turtles, mammals, birds, and other reptiles.

5. Population • There is an estimated number of American Alligators in the south eastern United States is several million. That’s not as many as you might think.

6. Habitat • The states the American Alligator are found in are Florida, southern Texas, Louisiana, North and South Carolina. • Their habitats are swamps, rivers, ponds, and wetlands.

7. ADAPTATIONS • Teeth : The American Alligator’s teeth help it rip and tear flesh from its prey. • Tail : The American Alligator’s tail helps it knock its prey off its feet and to swim. • Muscle : The American Alligator uses its muscle to overpower its prey.

8. Fun Facts • Did you know that in 1897 Florida declared the American Alligator their official state reptile?

9. WHY ARE THEY ENDANGERED • The American Alligator is endangered because they are dying out due to habitat loss. • They are endangered also because they were hunted for their leathery skin.

10. REFERENCES • Defenders of the Wild. 2012. • www.defenders.org