State Member of the North American Waterfowl Federation (NAWF)
CONSERVATION ALABAMA
The American Alligator
by Jerry D. Davis
September 1999
The American Alligator, is the largest reptile found in Alabama. The
alligator belongs to the crocodile family and is one of the last surviving members of the
dinosaur era. Alligators are found throughout Alabama's many rivers, creeks, swamps
and lakes, but are mostly in south Alabama. Its large roughback and long, broad
snout can identify the alligator. Adult alligators are generally black in color and
range from 6 to 12 feet in length. The only noticeable difference between adult
males and females is size. Adult females will only grow to six or seven feet.
Their size and yellowish markings may distinguish immature alligators.
The alligator is a reptile; therefore it is a cold-blooded animal.
The body temperature of the alligator is directly influenced by the outside temperature,
which surrounds it. During the winter, alligators will seek dens where they will
become inactive for a time. The dens are dug under banks and they usually have
underwater entrances. The alligator thrives in warm weather situations.
During warm weather alligators can often be seen basking in the sun. But alligators
cannot tolerate long, direct exposure to the sun during extremely high temperatures.
When temperatures become extreme alligators will seek shaded areas or will remain
submerged for extended periods. During these periods of hot weather, alligators are
mostly active at night when feeding and during the early morning and late afternoon
periods. A bulk of a mature alligator's diet consists of mammals, turtles, birds,
snakes and rough fish. Young alligators will feed on crawfish, small birds and small
fish. Hatchling alligators feed on small insects and small vertebrates such as
minnows and frogs.
Adult alligators reach maturity at the age of six to seven years. The
nesting season begins around late spring or early summer. During this time the
female will use grass and other vegetation to build a nest mound which may be over two
feet in height and six feet across. Once the nest is completed, the female will lay
35 to 40 eggs on top of the nest and then cover the eggs. The nest becomes a
self-incubator because the decomposing nest material produces
heat. During the incubation period, which lasts about 65 days, the
female will stay around the nest to protect the eggs from predators such as skunks and raccoons. When the eggs are ready to hatch, the
female will aid in the process by pushing the nest material
aside, and sometimes, will crack the eggs open with her mouth. Once the eggs have
hatched, the female will take the seven-inch hatchling into her
mouth and carry them to water.
