Alligators are reptiles.

Alligators have been living on Earth for millions of years and are sometimes described as ‘living fossils’.

There are two different species of alligator, the American alligator and the Chinese alligator.

American alligators live in south-eastern areas of the United States such as Florida and Louisiana.

Chinese alligators are found in the Yangtze River but they are critically endangered and only a few remain in the wild.

Like other reptiles, alligators are cold-blooded.

Alligators can weigh over 450 kg (1000 lb).

Alligators have a powerful bite but the muscles that open the jaw are relatively weak. An adult human could hold the jaws of an alligator shut with their bare hands.

Alligators eat a range of different animals such as fish, birds, turtles and even deer.

Alligator eggs become male or female depending on the temperature, male in warmer temperatures and female in cooler temperatures.

Alligators are less likely to attack humans than crocodiles.

Like crocodiles, alligators are part of the order ‘Crocodylia’.

Check out some interesting alligator and crocodile differences.