American alligator look very scary but they are very kind moms. The females will build a nest, incubate and help young come out of the eggs, help to bring them to the water in their jaws, and protect them for up to a year!  Alligators live in fresh water. The difference between an alligator and crocodile is that the alligator has a “U” shaped snout and a crocodile has a “A” shaped snout. So, an alligator has wider jaws than a crocodile. Alligators are also faster on land. Alligators can dies if they can not find water so they will go into people’s swimming pools. The American alligator is almost as big as the crocodile and both are very large predators.

Where do they live?: South-east of the United States
What do they eat? eating fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals
How big are they? 3 to 4.5 m and weight 450 kg
How long do they live? 35 to 50 years

Habitat

Fun Facts:

• Alligators don’t stop growing
• Alligators are one of the most vocal reptiles – they have a variety of calls to communicate with other alligators
• Alligators (and crocodiles) are the closest relatives to the dinosaurs (and birds!)
• If an alligator’s tooth falls out, it will grow back again. Alligators can go through 2000 teeth in a lifetime.

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Activities and Crafts:

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Learn more about the American alligator

National Geographic : American Alligator
National Geographic Kids: American Alligator