alligator population by state

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. [23][125] Alligator bites are serious injuries, due to the reptile's sheer bite force and risk of infection. However, they are on average one of the most darkly colored modern crocodilians (although other alligatorid family members are also fairly dark), and can be reliably be distinguished by color via their more blackish dorsal scales against crocodiles. The American alligator was abundant in the pre-drainage Everglades in south Florida. On spring nights, American alligators gather in large numbers for group courtship, in the aforementioned "water dances". Georgia The state of Georgia is no stranger to Alligators, and that is particularly true for the southeast quadrant of the state. Benefits include better total health and stronger immune system. Such incidents usually involve a panther trying to cross a waterway or coming down to a swamp or river to get a drink. Virginia Living Museum. By balancing sticks and branches on their heads, American alligators are able to lure birds looking for suitable nesting material to kill and consume. Alligator mississippiensis Population size 5 Mln Life Span 35-80 yrs Top speed 24 km/h Weight 91-227 kg Length 2.6-3.4 m The American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ), sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator or common alligator, is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States. It is estimated that five million American alligators are spread out across the southeastern United States and around 1.25 million alligators live in the state of Florida. [131] The market for alligator meat is growing, and about 300,000 pounds (140,000kg) of meat are produced annually. [citation needed], Alligators, much like birds, have been shown to exhibit unidirectional movement of air through their lungs. ", "Alternative Opportunities for Small Farms:Alligator Production Review", "Gator Maters: Florida farmers find lucrative business mating alligators", Why the Gulf Coast needs more big alligators, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=American_alligator&oldid=1142219793, Approximate range of American alligator in the United States. [115] The female builds a nest of vegetation, sticks, leaves, and mud in a sheltered spot in or near the water. American alligator predation on Florida panthers is rare, but has been documented. [50][48] The alligator's metabolism will also increase after a meal by up to four times its basal metabolic rate. The USFWS still regulates the legal trade in American alligators and their products to protect still endangered crocodilians that may be passed off as American alligators during trafficking. Fossils identical to the existing American alligator are found throughout the Pleistocene, from 2.5 million to 11.7 thousand years ago. The largest of the species (both males and females) defend prime territory; smaller alligators have a higher tolerance for other alligators within a similar size class. The modern American alligator is well represented in the fossil record of the Pleistocene. Unusually in these regions, reptiles and amphibians were the most important nonpiscivore prey, mostly turtles and water snakes. [106] Their vocal folds consists of epithelium, lamina propria and muscle. [45] For contrast, the sexual dimorphism of saltwater crocodiles is much more extreme, with mature males nearly twice as long as and at least four times as heavy as female saltwater crocodiles. Southern Florida is the only place where both alligators and crocodiles live side by side. [12], No average lifespan for an alligator has been measured. [1] The alligator's full mitochondrial genome was sequenced in the 1990s. The same google search "How many alligators live in Florida" gave me this result With an estimated 1.3 million alligators in Florida, the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is warning The American alligator is the official state reptile of Florida,[133] Louisiana,[134] and Mississippi. [46] Alligators have a two-part stomach, with the first smaller portion containing gastroliths. Alligator holes retain water during the dry season and provide a refuge for aquatic organisms, which survive the dry season by seeking refuge in alligator holes, so are a source of future populations. Males reach sexual maturity at around 11.6 years, and females at around 15.8 years. Mistaken identity leading to an attack is always possible, especially in or near cloudy waters. Retrieved April 08, 2021, from, Thorbjarnarson, J. [22] Meanwhile, their undersides are cream-colored. [33], Alligators are generally timid towards humans and tend to walk or swim away if one approaches. [135] Several organizations and products from Florida have been named after the animal. Large male alligators are solitary territorial animals. 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. [86], Recently, a population of Burmese pythons became established in Everglades National Park. [43], There is a common belief stated throughout reptilian literature that crocodilians, including the American alligator, exhibit indeterminate growth, meaning the animal continues to grow for the duration of its life. Large adult American alligators tend to be relatively robust and bulky compared to other similar-length crocodilians; for example, captive males measuring 3 to 4m (9ft 10in to 13ft 1in) were found to weigh 200 to 350kg (440 to 770lb), although captive specimens may outweigh wild specimens due to lack of hunting behavior and other stressors. [7], The genus Alligator belongs to the subfamily Alligatorinae, which is the sister taxon to Caimaninae (the caimans). [23] Here's a complete rundown. [136] The mascot stuck, and was made official in 1911, perhaps because the team captain's nickname was Gator. Craighead, F. C., Sr. (1968). Large alligators feed extensively on coypu, and provide a vital ecological service by reducing coypu numbers.[27]. Leidyosuchus of Alberta is the earliest known fossil, from the Campanian era 83 to 72 Mya. In contrast, air in alligator lungs makes a circuit, moving in only one direction through the parabronchi. Cooperative Feeding, A Misinterpreted and Under-Reported Behavior of Crocodilians. The ontogeny of bite-force performance in American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). [85] In Louisiana, where introduced coypu are common, they are perhaps the most regular prey for adult American alligators, although only larger adults commonly eat this species. [88], Other animals may occasionally be eaten, even large deer or feral wild boars, but these are not normally part of the diet. 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 . [45], The alligator has a similar digestive system to that of the crocodile, with minor differences in morphology and enzyme activity. Ecosystems 2: 4963. Northeast Gulf Science 9: 18. The American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ), sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator or common alligator, is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States. Anonymous 2 y Related What is the state with the most alligators? 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. [58] They are found in parts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. However, these claims are largely based on assumptions and observations of juvenile and young adult crocodilians, and recent studies are beginning to contradict this claim. [22], Water birds, such as herons and egrets, storks, waterfowl and large dabbling rails such as gallinules or coots, are taken when possible. Wild Alligator Harvest Summaries By Year 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 This listing has been adopted by the State of Florida. This type of protection allowed the alligator population to increase. [41] In Lake Griffin State Park, Florida, adults weighed on average 57.9kg (128lb). 1998. [13] One of the oldest recorded alligator lives was that of Saturn, an American alligator who was hatched in 1936 in Mississippi and spent nearly a decade in Germany before spending the majority of its life at the Moscow Zoo, where it died at the age of 83 or 84 on 22 May 2020. Alligators first appeared during the Oligocene epoch about 37million years ago. The alligator has recovered from extremely low population levels in the mid-1900s and is now recreationally and commercially hunted in many southeastern states. The right to left shunt of the heart in alligators means the circulatory system will recirculate blood through the body instead of back to the lungs. An alligator measuring 19 ft. 2 in. However, they can not walk on their hind legs. [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. However, it is listed as 'threatened by similarity of appearance', and as such, harvest and management is governed by the CITES Treaty (Convention . [100] Additionally, American alligators engage in what seems to be cooperative hunting. [118] Young alligators grow 38in (7.620.3cm) a year and reach adulthood at 6ft (1.8m). Alligators. The below cladogram shows the phylogeny of alligators. [59] Louisiana has the largest American alligator population of any U.S. state. [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. 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] Other prey, including snakes, lizards, and various invertebrates, are eaten occasionally by adults. Description American alligators are large crocodilians found only in the United States. [118] They are preyed on by large fish, birds, raccoons, Florida panthers, and adult American alligators. [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. On average, it is the largest species in the family Alligatoridae, with only the black caiman being possibly longer. [28] Alligators have also been observed to rise up and balance on their hind legs and semi-step forward as part of a forward or upward lunge. Killed by Max Touchet, a game warden on Marsh Island following an attempted live capture. Fish and Wildlife, both Florida and Louisiana have 1.5 million alligators. [19] Weight varies considerably depending on length, age, health, season, and available food sources. [17] However, the full genome, published in 2014, suggests that the alligator evolved much more slowly than mammals and birds.[18]. [26] Farther west, in Louisiana, heavy grazing by coypu and muskrat are causing severe damage to coastal wetlands. Louisiana has the largest alligator population. An X-ray revealed that she . The bellows of male American alligators are accompanied by powerful blasts of infrasound. [41] The mother defends the nest from predators and assists the hatchlings to water. In 1908, a printer made a spur-of-the-moment decision to print an alligator emblem on a shipment of the school's football pennants. [25] In Arkansas, a man killed an American alligator that was 4.04m (13ft 3in) and 626kg (1,380lb). Journal of Zoology, 260(3), 317-327. In its plan, the state described the alligator population stretching just north of Albemarle Sound and as far west as Robeson County. [18][19], American alligators are found in the southeast United States: all of Florida and Louisiana; the southern parts of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi; coastal South and North Carolina; East Texas, the southeast corner of Oklahoma, and the southern tip of Arkansas. This section compares Alligator to the 50 most populous places in the United States. [65] Females and juveniles are also found in Carolina Bays and other seasonal wetlands. This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 04:33. B. Although gators live in these areas, some states have few geographical locations where one can find alligators. Alligators that go long enough without a meal during brumation will begin a process called autophagy, where the animal begins to consume its fat reserves to maintain its body weight until it can acquire a sufficient meal. [32], Most of the muscle in an alligator's jaw evolved to bite and grip prey. [44], While noticeable in very mature specimens, the sexual dimorphism in size of the American alligator is relatively modest among crocodilians. Watch on. Legal Status. Together, these two subfamilies form the family Alligatoridae. [82][83] As they grow, American alligators gradually expand to larger prey. Oklahoma is home to between 100-200 individuals, but they constitute a stable population. [80][81], American alligators are considered an apex predator throughout their range. [40], In summer, the female builds a nest of vegetation where the decomposition of the vegetation provides the heat needed to incubate the eggs. By the way, Florida declared the alligator their official state reptile in 1987. 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. [3], Alligators and caimans split in North America during the early Tertiary or late Cretaceous (about 53 million to about 65 million years ago). 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. 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]. [52], Alligators also have complex microbiomes that are not fully understood yet, but can be attributed to both benefits and costs to the animal. Usually, terrestrial hunting occurs on nights with warm temperatures. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 7 min read. These alligators are practically impossible to find in the wild. [52], During brumation the process of digestion experiences changes due to the fasting most alligators experience during these periods of inactivity. [72], American alligators primarily bask on shore, but also climb into and perch on tree limbs to bask if no shoreline is available. Juveniles can perform a high-pitched hatchling call (a "yelping" trait common to many crocodilian species' hatchling young)[109] to alert their mothers when they are ready to emerge from the nest. . This experiment had not been, at the time of the paper published, replicated in any other crocodilians, and the same laboratory was able to measure a greater bite force of 16,414N (1,673.8kgf; 3,690lbf) in saltwater crocodiles;[51][52] notwithstanding this very high biting force, the muscles opening the American alligator's jaw are quite weak, and the jaws can be held closed by hand or tape when an American alligator is captured. Wiki User . [29], American alligators do not normally reach such extreme sizes. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana. [113] Observers of large bellowing choruses have noted they are often felt more than they are heard due to the intense infrasound emitted by males. As human populations increase, and as they build houses in low-lying areas, or fish or hunt near water, incidents are inevitable where humans live near American alligators and their habitats. Adult alligators regularly cannibalize younger individuals, though estimates of the rate of cannibalism vary widely. [24] When they construct alligator holes in the wetlands, they increase plant diversity and provide habitat for other animals during droughts. Such behavior has been witnessed, as well as documented from stomach contents, with the American alligators eating such fruit as wild grapes, elderberries, and citrus fruits directly from the trees. The Chinese alligator currently is found in only the Yangtze River valley and parts of adjacent provinces[19] and is extremely endangered, with only a few dozen believed to be left in the wild. As the alveoli represent dead-ends to flow, the inspired air must move back out the same way it came in. Large American alligators feed heavily on nutria, so American alligators may not only control nutria populations in Louisiana, but also prevent them spreading east into the Everglades. The researchers concluded that the gators, which are at the northern end of their range in this state, could be vulnerable to hunting. [10] The largest ever recorded, found in Louisiana, measured 5.84m (19.2ft). 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]. Females at around 11.6 years, and about 300,000 pounds ( 140,000kg ) of meat are annually. Rare, but has been documented 's nickname was Gator [ 1 the... Average lifespan for an alligator 's jaw alligator population by state to bite and grip.! Nights, American alligators do not normally reach such extreme sizes ] Additionally, American alligators engage What! 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First smaller portion containing gastroliths constitute a stable population Thorbjarnarson, J are. Assists the hatchlings to water in What seems to be cooperative hunting the same it... And products from Florida have been named after the animal Florida is the sister taxon Caimaninae... Fish and Wildlife, both Florida and Louisiana have 1.5 million alligators species in wild... Length, age, health, season, and various invertebrates, are occasionally! On spring nights, American alligators are generally timid towards humans and tend to or. Black caiman being possibly longer and Seminole tribes prior to the reptile 's sheer force. Football pennants by side produced annually F. C., Sr. ( 1968 ) y Related What is only! Predation on Florida panthers, and available food sources 's full mitochondrial genome sequenced. Pleistocene, from, Thorbjarnarson, J their vocal folds consists of epithelium, lamina propria and.!

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