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Class:
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Reptilia
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Order:
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Crocadylia
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Family:
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Alligatoridae
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Genus:
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Alligator
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Species:
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mississippiensis
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Life span:
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Up to 50 years in the wild
80 years under human care |
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Egg Gestation:
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Females make a nest and lay from 20 – 50 eggs. Each egg weighs 2 –3 oz each. Hatching occurs after 65 days of incubation.
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Number of young at birth:
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20 – 50
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Age of maturity:
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10 – 12 years
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Size:
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Females 10 – 12 ft
Males: 3 – 15 ft |
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Weight:
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Up to 900 lb
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Size at birth:
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9 – 10 in.
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| Habitat: | Wetlands |
| Range: | southeastern United States |
Fun Facts:
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Small alligators hatchling eat insects, crabs, crayfish, small fish, frogs, snails and many other small prey. Larger alligators eat fish, turtles, mammals, snakes, crabs, crayfish, birds, insects and other alligators.
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If the temperature drops below 86˚F, all eggs will turn out to be female alligators. If the temperature rises to 93˚F or above, all eggs will turn out to be male. At 89.6˚F, more than ¾ of the hatchlings are female.
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The nest is made of mounds of vegetation and mud that can rise 3.5 ft and twice as wide.
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The American Alligator can only withstand brackish water for short periods of time.
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Can tolerate colder temperatures than crocodiles
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They are the largest reptile in North America.
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Can go through 2,000 to 3,000 teeth in a lifetime.
