How long is the longest American alligator?

How long is the longest American alligator?

“The largest published size record for the American alligator is a 14-foot, 9.25-inch individual that was killed in Alabama in 2014,” says wildlife ecologist and conservation biologist David A.

How big can American alligators get?

11.2 feet
The American alligator can grow up to 11.2 feet (3.4 meters) long and weigh nearly half a ton (1,000 lbs. or 454 kilograms), according to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Chinese alligators are smaller, growing to around 4.6 to 4.9 feet (1.4 to 1.5 m) long and usually weighing only around 50 lbs.

Do alligators have a size limit?

Very old, large male American alligators reach an expected maximum size up to 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in) in length and weighing up to 453 kg (999 lb), while females reach a maximum of 3 m (9 ft 10 in). On rare occasions, a large, old male may grow to an even greater length.

How long is the biggest alligator on record?

15 feet, 9 inches long
The current world record alligator was taken by Mandy Stokes, of Thomaston, in August 2014. It measured 15 feet, 9 inches long and weighed 1,011.5 pounds. Stokes and her crew took the gator in Mill Creek, a tributary of the Alabama River.

How can you tell how old an alligator is?

Scientists use the process of skeletochronology to tell the age of an alligator. It allows them to estimate the alligator’s age by examining the growth rate based on its bone structure. Despite having long lifespans, Chinese alligators are threatened by humans and loss of habitat.

What is the farthest north an alligator has been found?

North Carolina
North Carolina is the farthest north that alligators are found naturally, he said. A 3-foot-long, collar-wearing alligator was found Sunday strolling down a street in Brockton, Mass.

How old is a 6 foot alligator?

Both males and females reach sexual maturity when they are about 6 feet (1.8 meters) long, a length attained at about 10 to 12 years.

What state has the most crocodiles?

Their range in Florida is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist. The current US population, estimated at 2,000 and growing, is a sign of return to the northernmost portion of their range.

How do you tell if an 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.

What is the lifespan of a alligator?

American alligator: 30 – 50 years
Alligators/Lifespan

How far north in the US are alligators?

American alligators can be found in the coastal wetlands of the U.S. Southeast, as far north as North Carolina and as far west as eastern Texas. Their range extends down to southern Florida and includes the Everglades.

What state has the highest alligator population?

Louisiana and Florida have the largest alligator populations—there are more than one million wild alligators in each state.

How big does the average American alligator get?

American alligators are large crocodilians found only in the United States. 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 animal’s dark skin is armored with small, bony scales called scutes.

How long does it take for an alligator to grow?

Hatchlings grow rapidly, especially during their first four years, sometimes averaging more than 1 foot of growth for each year of life. Alligator holes typically retain water throughout the winter dry season and serve as a refuge for a variety of wildlife.

Where are American alligators found in the United States?

Description: American alligators ( Alligator mississippiensis) inhabit the southeastern United States. Once a federally listed endangered species, American alligators have recovered and are common in many areas of the Southeast. The species is still federally listed as threatened because it looks like the American crocodile, which is endangered.

When do alligators come out of their burrows?

Alligators are dormant throughout much of the winter season. During this time, they can be found in burrows (or “dens”) that they construct adjacent to an alligator hole or open water, but they occasionally emerge to bask in the sun during spells of warm weather.