Newly hatched alligators live in small groups, called ‘pods.’ Some 80 percent of young alligators fall victim to predators such as birds, raccoons, bobcats, otters, snakes, large bass and larger alligators. Females aggressively defend their young during these first few years.[1]
What Do American Alligators Prey On?
American alligators are carnivores. They eat fish, invertebrates, frogs, birds, and mammals. They use their sharp teeth to capture prey, and their strong jaws are powerful enough to crack a turtle’s shell. American alligators hunt predominantly at night.[2]
What Kind Of Predators Are Alligators?
American alligators are apex predators and consume fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Hatchlings feed mostly on invertebrates.[3]
How Mutch Does A Baby American Alligator Weigh
How much do baby alligators weigh? Hatchlings weigh about 56 grams when hatch and are almost 10 inches long. For every year, they gain about a foot of length and usually stop growing at around 10 to 11 feet for females, and for males, they get to be about 14 feet long on average.Dec 30, 2021[4]
What Is The Average Size Of A Baby Alligator?
When the baby alligator hatches it measures about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters). Newly hatched alligators live in small groups, called ‘pods.’ Some 80 percent of young alligators fall victim to predators such as birds, raccoons, bobcats, otters, snakes, large bass and larger alligators.[5]
How Heavy Is A 5 Ft Alligator?
Four-foot alligators average about 11 pounds, while gators measuring 5 feet average only about 22 pounds.[6]
How Much Does A 15 Foot Alligator Weigh?
Males average 10 to 15 feet in length and can weigh 1,000 pounds. Females grow to a maximum of about 9.8 feet.[7]
How Many Pounds Does A Baby Alligator Weigh?
Newborns come in a range of healthy sizes. Most babies born between 37 and 40 weeks weigh somewhere between 5 pounds, 8 ounces (2,500 grams) and 8 pounds, 13 ounces (4,000 grams). Newborns who are lighter or heavier than the average baby are usually fine.[8]
How Long Does It Take For An American Alligator To Grow
Most alligators become sexually mature before reaching seven feet in length, although females can reach maturity at six feet. It may take 10–15 years for a female to reach this length and a male 8–12 years.[9]
How Long Does It Take For Alligators To Grow To Full Size?
Growth then slows slightly until age 10, when the alligator reaches approximately 8 feet in length. However, after 10 years, a female gator will have reached full size (9 feet), and a male alligator’s growth rate will slow considerably, growing less than an inch per year.Apr 2, 2019[10]
How Fast Do American Alligators Grow?
Size and Growth Rates. Alligators are about 8′-9′ in length when they are hatched from eggs. Growth rates may vary from 2′ per year to 12′ per year, depending on the type of habitat the alligator is living in and the sex, size and age of the alligator. Growth rates slow down as the alligators become older.[11]
How Old Is A 13 Foot American Alligator?
According to Brent Howze, a wildlife biologist with the GDNA, the animal was 13 feet and four inches long, 57 inches in circumference of its chest, and weighs an estimated 700 to 750 pounds. The department said the alligator might be around 50 years old, but researchers are working to find its exact age.[12]
How Old Is A 2 Ft Alligator?
A two-foot alligator is probably 2 to 3 years old, Mr. Kacprzyk said. The chilly 48-degree temperature on Tuesday night would not hurt the alligator, he said, but they do tend to slow down when temperatures drop.[13]
How Much Does A Female American Alligator Weigh
Average. American alligators do not normally reach such extreme sizes. In mature males, most specimens grow up to about 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in) in length, and weigh up to 360 kg (790 lb), while in females, the mature size is normally around 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in), with a body weight up to 91 kg (201 lb).[14]
How Big Do Female American Alligators Get?
The average adult size for a female is 8.2 feet (2.6 meters), and the average size for a male is 11.2 feet (3.4 meters). Exceptionally large males can reach a weight of nearly half a ton or 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms).[15]
How Heavy Is A Full Grown American Alligator?
Males average 10 to 15 feet in length and can weigh 1,000 pounds. Females grow to a maximum of about 9.8 feet.[16]
How Strong Is A American Alligator?
Alligator jaw muscles have little strength for opening their mouth, but the muscles that shut them are very strong and have awesome force, about 300 pounds per square inch in an adult. Alligators do not require as much food as we do. In the summer a large alligator may only eat once or twice a week.[17]
How Many Pounds Do American Alligators Weigh?
An alligator can weigh as much as half a ton (1,000 pounds), but an average male weighs between 500 and 600 pounds (227 to 272 kilograms). Females are usually smaller than males. Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.[18]
What Is The State Of Frogs, Pandas, And The American Alligator
American alligator | Smithsonian’s National Zoonationalzoo.si.edu › animals › american-alligator[19]
What State Animal Is Alligator?
The species is the official state reptile of three states: Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.[20]
Is The American Alligator Endangered?
Least ConcernAmerican alligators were once threatened by extinction, but after being placed on the endangered species list in 1967, their population increased. This species is now classified as least concern. The main threat to these reptiles today is habitat loss caused by wetland drainage and development.[21]
What Is American Alligators Ecosystem?
The American alligator inhabits freshwater swamps, marshes, rivers, lakes and canals. It can be found throughout the southeastern United States, from the coastal swamps of North and South Carolina, throughout Florida, and west to Texas.[22]
Why Is The American Alligator Florida’S State Reptile?
In 1987 the Florida legislature designated the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) as the official state reptile. Long an unofficial symbol of the state, the alligator originally symbolized Florida’s extensive untamed wilderness and swamps.[23]
When Does An American Alligator Reach Sexual Maturity
Nearly all alligators become sexually mature by the time they reach approximately 7 feet in length although females can reach maturity at 6 feet. A female may require 10-15 years and a male 8-12 years to reach these lengths. Courtship begins in early April, and mating occurs in May or June.[24]
Are Alligators Asexual Or Sexual?
American alligators reproduce sexually, with internal fertilization. Because alligators are oviparous, after fertilization takes place, the female alligators lays eggs.[25]
What Is The American Alligators Life Cycle?
Typically, the average alligator’s lifespan is 50 years; however, the oldest on record is in its early 70s. While alligators of 10 feet can have as much as 1,800 pounds of bite, alligators can grow to a maximum length of 14 feet.[26]
How Can You Tell If A Baby Alligator Is Male Or Female?
It is a slit located between the rear legs. dark red, it’s a male. Female organs are half that size and are light pink or white. For a larger alligator, the gator must be flipped over and a person must insert a clean finger into the vent and feel for the copulatory organ which is pulled out, measured and examined.[27]
Can Alligators Switch Genders?
Temperatures above 93 degrees F from days seven to 21 after laying causes all the young to be males. Temperatures between these two result in batches of both genders. After day 21 of incubation, temperature fluctuations do not alter the gender of the hatchlings that will emerge.[28]
At What Size Are American Alligator Dangerous
Caimans rarely survive winters north of central Florida and reproduce only in southern Florida. Alligators usually are not aggressive toward humans. Unprovoked attacks by alligators smaller than 5 feet are rare, but unusual behavior does occur. Single bites usually are made by alligators that are less than 8 feet long.[29]
Is A 3 Foot Alligator Dangerous?
Small alligators are not a threat to humans and won’t attack people under normal circumstances [source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission]. Sometimes people think small alligators — say, smaller than 3 feet (0.9 meters) — will make a good pet.[30]
Resources
[1]https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/american-alligator
[2]https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/American-Alligator
[3]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_alligator
[4]https://a-z-animals.com/blog/baby-alligator-six-facts-and-pictures/
[5]https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/american-alligator
[6]http://www.southeasternoutdoors.com/wildlife/reptiles/article/small-alligators-not-problem.html
[7]https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/american-alligator
[8]https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/grownewborn.html
[9]https://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/upload/American-Alligator_FINAL_LORES.pdf
[10]https://www.mcgeesswamptours.com/post/alligator-length-vs-age
[11]https://www.louisianaalligators.com/alligator-biology-and-behavior.html
[12]https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/13-foot-gator-estimated-to-be-50-years-old-found-in-georgia
[13]https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2006/09/21/2-foot-long-alligator-caught-in-Frick-Park/stories/200609210434
[14]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_alligator
[15]https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/american-alligator
[16]https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/american-alligator
[17]https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_lf_w7000_0488.pdf
[18]https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/american-alligator
[19]https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/american-alligator
[20]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_alligator
[21]https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/American-Alligator
[22]https://www.zooamerica.com/animals/american-alligator/
[23]https://dos.myflorida.com/florida-facts/florida-state-symbols/state-reptile/
[24]https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/alligator/facts/
[25]https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Alligator_mississippiensis/%23:~:text%3DAmerican%2520alligators%2520reproduce%2520sexually%252C%2520with,the%2520female%2520alligators%2520lays%2520eggs.
[26]https://gatoralleyfarm.com/the-life-of-an-alligator/%23:~:text%3DTypically%252C%2520the%2520average%2520alligator’s%2520lifespan,maximum%2520length%2520of%252014%2520feet.
[27]https://crewtrust.org/wildlife-q-a-how-can-you-tell-if-an-alligator-is-male-or-female/%23:~:text%3DIt%2520is%2520a%2520slit%2520located%2520between%2520the%2520rear%2520legs.%26text%3Ddark%2520red%252C%2520it’s%2520a%2520male,pulled%2520out%252C%2520measured%2520and%2520examined.
[28]https://animals.mom.com/determines-gender-alligator-2747.html%23:~:text%3DTemperatures%2520above%252093%2520degrees%2520F,the%2520hatchlings%2520that%2520will%2520emerge.
[29]https://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/publications/nuisance/alligators.pdf
[30]https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/alligator-zigzag.htm