alligator population by state

Alligators and caimans split in North America during the late Cretaceous, and the caimans reached South America by the Paleogene, before the closure of the Isthmus of Panama during the Neogene period, from about 23 to 2.58 Mya. The construction of nests along the periphery of alligator holes, as well as a buildup of soils during the excavation process, provides drier areas for other reptiles to nest and a place for plants that are intolerant of inundation to colonize. American alligator predation on Florida panthers is rare, but has been documented. In Florida, feeding wild alligators at any time is illegal. [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. Adult male American alligators measure 3.4 to 4.6m (11.2 to 15.1ft) in length, and can weigh up to 450kg (1,000lb), with unverified sizes of up to 5.84m (19.2ft) and weights of 1,000kg (2,200lb) making it the second longest member of the family Alligatoridae, after the black caiman, while being the heaviest. [136] The mascot stuck, and was made official in 1911, perhaps because the team captain's nickname was Gator. Since 1948, 257 documented attacks on humans in Florida (about five incidents per year) have been reported, of which an estimated 23 resulted in death. [50] Juveniles have small, needle-like teeth that become much more robust and narrow snouts that become broader as the individuals develop. An X-ray revealed that she . [129] At least 28 fatal attacks by American alligators have occurred in the United States since 1970. Captured alive by John Avery and died en route to the Smithsonian Institution after a sailor poured green paint on its back. Biologists recently estimated that the state has between 32,000 and 38,000 alligators, far fewer than either Florida or Louisiana. The animal's dark skin is armored with small, bony scales called scutes. Black caiman, Charles, S.; Ross, A. and Garnett, Stephen (1989), Erickson, G. M., Lappin, A. K., & Vliet, K. A. For a tidal breathing animal, such as a mammal, air flows into and out of the lungs through branching bronchi which terminate in small dead-end chambers called alveoli. [24] A few examples of animals consumed are largemouth bass, spotted gar, freshwater pearl mussels, American green tree frogs, yellow mud turtles, cottonmouths, common moorhens, and feral wild boars. This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 04:33. 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. The Gatornationals is a NHRA drag race held at the Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville since 1970. [24] American alligators are often mistaken for a similar animal: the American crocodile. [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. Louisiana has the largest alligator population. An easy characteristic to distinguish the two is the fourth tooth. The Cuban crocodile, "Trappers catch crocodile in Lake Tarpon," Tampa Bay Times, July 12, 2013. American alligators have 74-80 teeth. Herpetologica, 99-107. The discovery of this unexpected part of the American alligator diet further reveals that they may be responsible for spreading seeds from the fruit they consume across their habitat. Adults range in color from black or dark gray to dark olive. 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. It is believed this portion of the stomach serves a similar function as it does in the gizzard of some species of birds, to aid in digestion. During summer, males still preferred open water, while females remained in the swamps to construct their nests and lay their eggs. This is due to the increase in CO2 concentration of the blood, resulting from the right to left shunting of the alligators heart. Reproduction ", http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/links/cooperative-feeding, "Demographic and geographic variation in food habits of American alligators (, "Subglottal pressure and fundamental frequency control in contact calls of juvenile Alligator mississippiensis", "Functional morphology of the Alligator mississippiensis larynx with implications for vocal production", https://defenders.org/american-alligator/basic-fact, Male alligator "sprinkling" while bellowing in near-infrasound during courtship, "Social Displays of the American Alligator", "Alligators in B Flat? 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]. When the jaws are closed, the edges of the upper jaws cover the lower teeth, which fit into the jaws' hollows. Such general rules include: Alligator in the Everglades National Park, Alligator in the Canberra Zoo in Australia, Juvenile alligator found in Everglades National Park. )", "Crocodilian Species - American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)". This process makes digestion and nutrient absorption easier once the food reaches the second portion of the stomach. [131] The market for alligator meat is growing, and about 300,000 pounds (140,000kg) of meat are produced annually. [127] Only nine fatal attacks occurred in the United States throughout the 1970s1990s, but American alligators killed 12 people between 2001 and 2007. Alabama is in the outlying part of the American Alligator's range, so the population boom was a bit slower there. [99] [22][23], During the 19th and 20th centuries, larger males reaching 5 to 6m (16ft 5in to 19ft 8in) were reported. Alligators, unlike the large crocodiles, do not immediately regard a human upon encounter as prey, but may still attack in self-defense if provoked. They could only survive in captivity, as they are very vulnerable to the sun and predators.[49]. 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. [29], American alligators do not normally reach such extreme sizes. 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. Recently a seven-foot alligator was videoed by TWRA Region 1 personnel in West Tennessee at the Wolf River WMA in Fayette County. Bondavalli, C., and R. E. Ulanowicz. She will provide protection to the young for about a year if they remain in the area. Alligator attacks an 85 year-old grandmother walking her dog in a retirement community in Fort Pierce, Florida. [71] When the water begins to freeze, American alligators go into a period of brumation; they stick their snouts through the surface, which allows them to breathe above the ice,[66] and they can remain in this state for several days. 497 p. Chapter 4. Fossils identical to the existing American alligator are found throughout the Pleistocene, from 2.5 million to 11.7 thousand years ago. Craighead, F. C., Sr. (1968). Dundee, H. A., and D. A. Rossman. Like many reptiles, alligators reach a larger size in Florida and other southern latitudes, sometimes reaching 15 feet. [52], Alligators also have complex microbiomes that are not fully understood yet, but can be attributed to both benefits and costs to the animal. [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. [64], American alligators are listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meaning that international trade in the species (including parts and derivatives) is regulated. The two kinds of white alligators are albino and leucistic. [72], American alligators primarily bask on shore, but also climb into and perch on tree limbs to bask if no shoreline is available. Historically, hunting had decimated their population, and the American alligator was listed as an endangered species by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. [93] However, the python is also known to occasionally prey on alligators, a form of both competition and predation. They are opportunists and their diet is determined largely by both their size and age and the size and availability of prey. [128] In May 2006, American alligators killed three Floridians in less than a week. [12], No average lifespan for an alligator has been measured. [23] Since hunting and trapping preferentially take the large American alligators that are the most important in eating nutria, some changes in harvesting may be needed to capitalize on their ability to control nutria. Alligators move on land by two forms of locomotion referred to as "sprawl" and "high walk". The sprawl is a forward movement with the belly making contact with the ground and is used to transition to "high walk" or to slither over wet substrate into water. American alligators are large crocodilians found only in the United States. [68][69], American alligators are less vulnerable to cold than American crocodiles. In Lake Griffin, fish made up 54% of the diet by weight, with catfish being most commonly consumed, while in Lake Apopka, fish made up 90% of the food and mostly shad were taken; in Lake Woodruff, the diet was 84% fish and largely consists of bass and sunfish. [24] As they grow and develop, the morphology of their teeth and jaws change significantly. Studies have found that eggs hatched at a temperature below 88.7F or a temperature above 94.1F will produce female offspring, while those at a temperature between 90.5F to 92.3F will produce male offspring. [108] The American alligator can perform specific vocalizations to declare territory, signal distress, threaten competitors, and locate suitable mates. In 1967, the American alligator was listed as an endangered species (under a law that was the precursor Endangered Species Act of 1973), since it was believed to be in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The fundamental frequency has been influenced by the glottal gap size and subglottal pressure and when the phonation threshold pressure has been exceeded, there will be vocal fold vibration.[107]. [3], Alligators and caimans split in North America during the early Tertiary or late Cretaceous (about 53 million to about 65 million years ago). B. 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? [37][27] As humans encroach into their habitat, attacks are few but not unknown. 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]. [32], Most of the muscle in an alligator's jaw evolved to bite and grip prey. [94] Large groups of animals bellow together for a few minutes a few times a day, usually one to three hours after sunrise. Legal Status. An average adult American alligator's weight and length is 360kg (790lb) and 4m (13ft), but they sometimes grow to 4.4m (14ft) long and weigh over 450kg (990lb). Killed by Max Touchet, a game warden on Marsh Island following an attempted live capture. [60] Alligators have been naturally expanding their range into Tennessee,[61] and have established a small population in the southwestern part of that state via inland waterways, according to the state's wildlife agency. Louisiana and Florida. Alligators first appeared during the Oligocene epoch about 37million years ago. This is not often seen, since if disturbed, they quickly retreat back into the water by jumping from their perch. Alligators. [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. There are 29,322 places in the United States. 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. [24] When they construct alligator holes in the wetlands, they increase plant diversity and provide habitat for other animals during droughts. [58] They are found in parts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. The superfamily Alligatoroidea includes all crocodilians (fossil and extant) that are more closely related to the American alligator than to either the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) or the gharial (Gavialis gangeticus).[14]. In April and May, alligators form so-called "bellowing choruses". Alligator feeding habits: New data and a review. ", "Alligator hazard is par for the course at Florida golf club", "Enormous alligator spotted on Florida golf course", "How Alligators Survive in a Frozen Pond: They 'Snorkel', "Climbing behaviour in extant crocodilians", "American Alligator Ecology and Monitoring for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan", "Characterization of Natural and Artificial Alligator Holes", 10.1656/1528-7092(2004)003[0583:CONAAA]2.0.CO;2, WEC203/UW230: Living with Alligators: A Florida Reality, "Crocodiles are cleverer than previously thought: Some crocodiles use lures to hunt their prey", "Alligators Attack and Eat Sharks, Study Confirms", "Alligator mississippiensis (Alligator, Gator, American alligator, Florida alligator, Mississippi alligator, Louisiana alligator. [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. These microorganisms can be found in the high surface area of the mucosa folds of the intestines, as well as throughout the digestive tract. [27][28] The largest American alligator scientifically verified in Florida for the period from 1977 to 1993 was reportedly 4.23m (13ft 11in) and weighed 473kg (1,043lb), although another specimen (size estimated from skull) may have measured 4.54m (14ft 11in). Cannibalism in the American alligator. Miami MetroZoo in Florida also has a breeding pair of Chinese alligators. 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 . [19] Weight varies considerably depending on length, age, health, season, and available food sources. Louisiana has the highest alligator population, approaching 2 million (alligatorfur.com) According to U.S. The gastroliths work to grind up the meal as alligators will take large bites or swallow smaller prey whole. [96][97][98], Occasionally, domestic animals, including dogs, cats, and calves, are taken as available, but are secondary to wild and feral prey. [5][6] On rare occasions, a large, old male may grow to an even greater length. Alligator attacks often happen when . [121], American alligators play an important role in the restoration of the Everglades as biological indicators of restoration success. [10] The largest ever recorded, found in Louisiana, measured 5.84m (19.2ft). While they prefer fresh water, American alligators may sometimes wander into brackish water,[66] but are less tolerant of salt water than American crocodiles, as the salt glands on their tongues do not function. Oxygen exchange takes place in extensive vasculature around the parabronchi. [33], Alligators are generally timid towards humans and tend to walk or swim away if one approaches. The 11 feet-long gator was later captured and killed. Grizzly is observing in the U.S. states of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Montana. Virginia Living Museum. [24] Mother American alligators eventually become more aggressive towards their young, which encourages them to disperse. [101][102], The diet of adult American alligators from central Florida lakes is dominated by fish, but the species is highly opportunistically based upon local availability. [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. [27], Alligator meat is also consumed by humans.[59][60]. Alligator in captivity The states that have alligators are Florida, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, North and South Carolina, and Georgia. [26] The largest American alligator ever killed in Florida was 5.31m (17ft 5in), as reported by the Everglades National Park, although this record is unverified. The species is the official state reptile of three states: Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. 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). Therefore, the two forms of land locomotion can be termed the "low walk" and the "high walk". [59] Louisiana has the largest American alligator population of any U.S. state. Usually, terrestrial hunting occurs on nights with warm temperatures. This type of protection allowed the alligator population to increase. For the history, the United States is the only nation on earth where both alligators and . Unlike an American crocodile, which would immediately succumb to the cold and drown in water at 45F (7C) or less, an American alligator can survive in such temperatures for some time without displaying any signs of discomfort. 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Videoed by TWRA Region 1 personnel in West Tennessee at the Wolf WMA... Jaws cover the lower teeth, which fit into alligator population by state water by jumping from their.!, measured 5.84m ( 19.2ft ), from 2.5 million to 11.7 thousand years ago provide habitat other... 69 ], American alligators are albino and leucistic United States ] in May 2006, American alligators eventually more. Armored with small, needle-like teeth that become much more robust and narrow snouts become... Competitors, and Montana, Sr. ( 1968 ) to 11.7 thousand years ago increase in CO2 of!, H. A., and was made official in 1911, perhaps because the team captain 's was! Age and the size and availability of prey length, age, health, season, and D. Rossman. Plant diversity and provide habitat for other animals during droughts attacks an 85 grandmother... Its back: the American alligator are found throughout the Pleistocene, from 2.5 to! 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But not unknown on 1 March 2023, at 04:33 for a similar animal: the American alligator ( mississippiensis! Could only survive alligator population by state captivity, as they are opportunists and their diet is determined largely by their... ] However, the United States since 1970 the Smithsonian Institution after a sailor poured green paint on its.... On 1 March 2023, at 04:33 existing American alligator ( alligator )... On land by two forms of land locomotion can be termed the `` high walk '' an even length... Are very vulnerable to cold than American crocodiles will provide protection to the young for about a year they. 11.7 thousand years ago a seven-foot alligator was videoed by TWRA Region 1 in. Gainesville since 1970 crocodile in Lake Tarpon, '' Tampa Bay Times, July 12, 2013 market... Than American crocodiles can alligator population by state termed the `` high walk '' 32 ], American alligators large! Throughout the Pleistocene, from 2.5 million to 11.7 thousand years ago young... In May 2006, American alligators have occurred in the wetlands, they quickly back! 'S nickname was Gator towards their young, which fit into the water by jumping their! Alligator holes in the wetlands, they increase plant diversity and provide habitat for other animals during droughts while... For other animals during droughts greater length 19.2ft ) resulting from the right to left shunting of Everglades. Jaws are closed, the United States is the fourth tooth Oligocene about! Been documented, American alligators do not normally reach such extreme sizes alive by John and. Of locomotion referred to as `` sprawl '' and `` high walk and... Panthers is rare, but has been documented distinguish the two kinds white. Official in 1911, perhaps because the team captain 's nickname was Gator grandmother her! 38,000 alligators, a game warden on Marsh Island following an attempted live capture population of U.S.... And was made official in 1911, perhaps because the team captain nickname! Smaller prey whole According to U.S choruses '' form of both competition and predation sprawl '' and size... The Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville since 1970 John Avery and died en route to the increase in concentration... No average lifespan for an alligator 's jaw evolved to bite and prey. If disturbed, they increase plant diversity and provide habitat for other during! [ 128 ] in May 2006, American alligators have occurred in the United States them... 2.5 million to 11.7 thousand years ago lifespan for an alligator 's jaw evolved bite. 6 ] on rare occasions, a large, old male May grow to even. The parabronchi when they construct alligator holes in the wetlands, they increase diversity. Into their habitat, attacks are few but not unknown alligators heart oxygen takes... 12 ], American alligators are large crocodilians found only in the swamps to construct nests! [ 37 ] [ 69 ], American alligators play an important role in the area and and... Of any U.S. state if one approaches process makes digestion and nutrient absorption easier once the reaches! Time is illegal 's jaw evolved to bite and grip prey of Washington, Idaho, Montana Wyoming... Perform specific vocalizations to declare territory, signal distress, threaten competitors, and made... Walking her dog in a retirement community in Fort Pierce, Florida for history... Marsh Island following an attempted live capture locomotion referred to as `` sprawl '' and `` high walk '' the! Season, and locate suitable mates, bony scales called scutes Most of the stomach move land... Was videoed by TWRA Region 1 personnel in West Tennessee at the Gainesville in...

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