alligator population by state

The American alligator is a relatively large species of crocodilian. Alligator hides bring good prices and hides in the 6- to 7-ft range have sold for $300 each. 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 Young are born with yellow bands around their bodies and are protected by their mother for up to one year.[12]. Their body alone ranges from 6 - 14 feet long. If fed, the alligators will eventually lose their fear of humans and will learn to associate humans with food.[34]. 2010. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana. [128] In May 2006, American alligators killed three Floridians in less than a week. [105], An American alligator is able to abduct and adduct the vocal folds of its larynx, but not to elongate or shorten them; yet in spite of this, it can modulate fundamental frequency very well. [10] It is distinguished from the sympatric American crocodile by its broader snout, with overlapping jaws and darker coloration, and is less tolerant of saltwater but more tolerant of cooler climates than the American crocodile, which is found only in tropical and warm subtropical climates. An easy characteristic to distinguish the two is the fourth tooth. In order to understand and properly manage Texas's alligator population, TPWD Wildlife Division conducts extensive studies in the state on the number, character and harvest of alligators every year. The species is the official state reptile of three states: Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. [121], American alligators play an important role in the restoration of the Everglades as biological indicators of restoration success. Fossils identical to the existing American alligator are found throughout the Pleistocene, from 2.5 million to 11.7 thousand years ago. 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. Louisiana harvested about 30,000 alligators last year--a number almost equivalent to the entire Mississippi alligator population. When young, alligators eat fish, insects, snails, crustaceans, and worms. This latest sighting is one of several confirmed sightings of alligators in Southwest Tennessee. [27], Alligator meat is also consumed by humans.[59][60]. [23], American alligators live in freshwater environments, such as ponds, marshes, wetlands, rivers, lakes, and swamps, as well as in brackish water. Watch on. Most of the state gets much too cold for gators to survive the winter, but there are some small regions that allow for a small population. Since 1948, 257 documented attacks on humans in Florida (about five incidents per year) have been reported, of which an estimated 23 resulted in death. [21][22] A small population is also found in Tamaulipas, in Mexico. The animal's dark skin is armored with small, bony scales called scutes. An alligator measuring 19 ft. 2 in. Males reach sexual maturity at around 11.6 years, and females at around 15.8 years. In one experiment conducted on the larynx, the fundamental frequency depended on both the glottal gap and stiffness of the larynx tissues. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) runs an annual alligator survey along approximately 317 miles of waterways on 15 routes in 13 counties. The best guess is that there are ABOUT 5 million alligators in the United States, and about 25% of them are in Florida.But they also live in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas and MAYBE even Tennessee. Like many reptiles, alligators reach a larger size in Florida and other southern latitudes, sometimes reaching 15 feet. 9 p. Available at: McLaughlin, Eliott C.; Almasy, Steve and Shoichet, Catherine E. (2016-06-16), International Union for Conservation of Nature, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, List of fatal alligator attacks in the United States, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, "Phylogenetic analysis of a new morphological dataset elucidates the evolutionary history of Crocodylia and resolves the long-standing gharial problem", 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T46583A3009637.en, American Alligators, American Alligator Pictures, American Alligator Facts National Geographic, https://thevlm.org/herp-highlight-1-american-alligator/, "Social Displays of the American Alligator (, "Phylogenetic approach toward crocodylian history", "The complete mitochondrial genome of Alligator mississippiensis and the separation between recent archosauria (birds and crocodiles)", "Three crocodilian genomes reveal ancestral patterns of evolution among archosaurs", 10.1638/1042-7260(2000)031[0303:mamawa]2.0.co;2, "Crocodilian SpeciesAmerican Alligator (, "Record gator caught in Southwest Arkansas", Everglades National Park Flora & Fauna Page, It's official! [60] Alligators have been naturally expanding their range into Tennessee,[61] and have established a small population in the southwestern part of that state via inland waterways, according to the state's wildlife agency. [57][58] The Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans has leucistic alligators found in a Louisiana swamp in 1987. Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in southern Louisiana has several in captivity in an attempt to preserve the species. Alligators consume food that cannot be eaten in one bite by allowing it to rot or by biting and then performing a "death roll", spinning or convulsing wildly until bite-sized chunks are torn off. Last edited on 27 February 2023, at 12:41, List of fatal alligator attacks in the United States by decade, "A time-calibrated species tree of Crocodylia reveals a recent radiation of the true crocodiles", "The complete mitochondrial genome of Alligator mississippiensis and the separation between recent archosauria (birds and crocodiles)", "Three crocodilian genomes reveal ancestral patterns of evolution among archosaurs", "Systematics and biogeography of crocodylians from the Miocene of Panama", "Phylogenetic relationships of Necrosuchus ionensis Simpson, 1937 and the early history of caimanines", "American Alligator and our National Parks", "Crocodilian Species American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)", "Berlin WW2 bombing survivor Saturn the alligator dies in Moscow Zoo", "Muja the alligator still alive and snapping in his 80s at Belgrade Zoo", "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species", "Species Profile: American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) SREL Herpetology", Locomotion In Alligator Mississippiensis: Kinematic Effects Of Speed And Posture and Their Relevance To The Sprawling-to-Erect Paradigm, "Death roll of the alligator: mechanics of twist feeding in water", "Crocodilian Captive Care FAQ (Caiman, Alligator, Crocodile)", "Can Animals Predict Disaster? Craighead, F. C., Sr. (1968). [24] Mother American alligators eventually become more aggressive towards their young, which encourages them to disperse. [8][9] In Newnans Lake, Florida, adult males averaged 73.2kg (161lb) in weight and 2.47m (8ft 1in) in length, while adult females averaged 55.1kg (121lb) and measured 2.22m (7ft 3in). [44], While noticeable in very mature specimens, the sexual dimorphism in size of the American alligator is relatively modest among crocodilians. [132] According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, raw alligator meat contains roughly 200 Calories (840 kJ) per 3-oz (85-g) portion, of which 27 Calories (130 kJ) come from fat. [15] In 2016, a Miocene (about 23 to 5.3 Mya) fossil skull of an alligator was found at Marion County, Florida. Herpetologica, 99-107. [39] In 2010, on spring nights alligators were found to gather in large numbers for group courtship, the so-called "alligator dances". American alligators occasionally prey on large mammals, such as deer, but usually do so when fish and smaller prey levels go down. 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. Only one of the American alligators was collected from the Colorado River, Mesa County, Colorado; the other was never recaptured, but there is no evidence of an established population (Livo et al., 1998). 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 . Florida has a population of 1.3 million alligators across its 67 counties, and they can be found in practically all fresh water bodies and occasionally in salt water. The American alligator was first classified by French zoologist Franois Marie Daudin as Crocodilus mississipiensis in 1801. [131] The market for alligator meat is growing, and about 300,000 pounds (140,000kg) of meat are produced annually. Together, these two subfamilies form the family Alligatoridae. [66], Nutria were introduced into coastal marshes from South America in the mid-20th century, and their population has since exploded into the millions. They are grouped in the family Alligatoridae with the caimans. pp. Almost all of the high-density populations of alligators live south of the Albermarle sound, although some individuals have been reported through the entire coastal region of the state. While there are rules of thumb for distinguishing alligators from crocodiles, all of them admit exceptions. Through LDWF's extensive research and wise management that includes sustainable wild harvest and alligator farming, Louisiana's wild alligator population has increased from less than 100,000 to more than 2 million in the past 50 years. Females are produced at temperatures less than 31.5oC; mixed sex ratios occur at 32oC, and males only are produced when temperatures are between 32.5 and 33oC. [129] At least 28 fatal attacks by American alligators have occurred in the United States since 1970. [86] In this way, the vital ecological service they provide may be important in reducing rates of coastal wetland losses in Louisiana. [11] The Chinese alligator is smaller, rarely exceeding 2.1m (7ft) in length. Alligator attacks an 85 year-old grandmother walking her dog in a retirement community in Fort Pierce, Florida. American alligator predation on Florida panthers is rare, but has been documented. Once an American alligator reaches full size and power in adulthood, any animal living in the water or coming to the water to drink is potential prey. 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. [70] The temperature at which American alligator eggs develop determines their sex (see temperature-dependent sex determination). Gators remain fully protected in North Carolina, unlike those in eight states from South Carolina to Arkansas and Texas, which allow hunting. 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. Since hunting and trapping preferentially take the large American alligators that are the most important in eating nutria, some changes in harvesting may be needed to capitalize on their ability to control nutria. [25] In Arkansas, a man killed an American alligator that was 4.04m (13ft 3in) and 626kg (1,380lb). "Severe mammal declines coincide with proliferation of invasive Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park", "Key West Florida Attractions | Alligator Exhibit", "Crocodiles and alligators like to chomp down on fruit! It is enclosed in a pocket in the upper jaw. The folds result in greater surface area for the nutrients to be absorbed through. ", "Insights into the ecology and evolutionary success of crocodilians revealed through bite-force and tooth-pressure experimentation", "American Crocodile: Species Description", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alligator&oldid=1141899701, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 12:41. [7], The genus Alligator belongs to the subfamily Alligatorinae, which is the sister taxon to Caimaninae (the caimans). The Chinese alligator likely descended from a lineage that crossed the Bering land bridge during the Neogene. 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. Hatchlings feed mostly on invertebrates. [40], In summer, the female builds a nest of vegetation where the decomposition of the vegetation provides the heat needed to incubate the eggs. Like the spectacled caiman, this species has a bony nasal ridge, though it is less prominent. [52], During brumation the process of digestion experiences changes due to the fasting most alligators experience during these periods of inactivity. may seem too good to be true, but then, some truths are quite incredible in themselves. [4][5] The Chinese alligator split from the American alligator about 33 million years ago[4] and probably descended from a lineage that crossed the Bering land bridge during the Neogene. The agency annually issues about 2,500 tags, with most of those tags used . [116] The nests built on levees are warmer, thus produce males, while the cooler nests of wet marsh produce females. Eggs are laid in a nest of vegetation, sticks, leaves, and mud in a sheltered spot in or near the water. Southern Florida is the only place where both alligators and crocodiles live side by side. ", http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/links/cooperative-feeding, "Demographic and geographic variation in food habits of American alligators (, "Subglottal pressure and fundamental frequency control in contact calls of juvenile Alligator mississippiensis", "Functional morphology of the Alligator mississippiensis larynx with implications for vocal production", https://defenders.org/american-alligator/basic-fact, Male alligator "sprinkling" while bellowing in near-infrasound during courtship, "Social Displays of the American Alligator", "Alligators in B Flat? After the female lays her 20 to 50 white eggs, about the size of a goose egg, she covers them with more vegetation, which heats as it decays, helping to keep the eggs warm. In 1987, the U.S. [20] The majority of American alligators inhabit Florida and Louisiana, with over a million alligators in each state. An average adult American alligator's weight and length is 360kg (790lb) and 4m (13ft), but they sometimes grow to 4.4m (14ft) long and weigh over 450kg (990lb). Alligator attacks often happen when . [59] Louisiana has the largest American alligator population of any U.S. state. These microorganisms can be found in the high surface area of the mucosa folds of the intestines, as well as throughout the digestive tract. The two states that have the most gators are Florida and Louisiana. This is not often seen, since if disturbed, they quickly retreat back into the water by jumping from their perch. 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. Captured alive by John Avery and died en route to the Smithsonian Institution after a sailor poured green paint on its back. This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 04:33. Impacts of the coypu removal program on the diet of American alligators (. Reproduction [26] Farther west, in Louisiana, heavy grazing by coypu and muskrat are causing severe damage to coastal wetlands. It has more alligators than any other state. [35][36] Their stomachs also often contain gizzard stones. [51] Alligators also have highly folded mucosa in the lining of the intestines to further aid in the absorption of nutrients. The least populous of the compared places has a population of 383,899. Although no valid records exist about its date of birth, as of 2012, it was in its 80s and possibly the oldest alligator living in captivity. Alligators also provide economic benefits through the ecotourism industry. [58], Alligators are raised commercially for their meat and their skin, which when tanned is used for the manufacture of luggage, handbags, shoes, belts, and other leather items. [46] Alligators have a two-part stomach, with the first smaller portion containing gastroliths. [3], They inhabit swamps, streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. 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. 1989. and early 1960's, but protective action by state and federal governments helped keep them from disappearing completely. Today, alligator farming is a large, growing industry in Georgia, Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. [24] Other prey, including snakes, lizards, and various invertebrates, are eaten occasionally by adults. 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. [110] Males are known to use infrasound during mating bellows. Virginia Living Museum. [93] However, the python is also known to occasionally prey on alligators, a form of both competition and predation. [112] Large bellowing "choruses" of American alligators during the breeding season are commonly initiated by females and perpetuated by males. Members of this superfamily first arose in the late Cretaceous, about 10065 million years ago (Mya). These American alligators are extremely rare and almost impossible to find in the wild. "Alligator hunters, pelt traders, and runaway consumption of Gulf coast marshes: a trophic cascade perspective on coastal wetland losses". Oklahoma is home to between 100-200 individuals, but they constitute a stable population. Grizzly is observing in the U.S. states of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Montana. [49] There is evidence to suggest that there is increased blood flow diverted to the stomach during digestion to facilitate an increase in CO2 concentration which aids in increasing gastric acid secretions during digestion. The sprawl is a forward movement with the belly making contact with the ground and is used to transition to "high walk" or to slither over wet substrate into water. Since the late 1880s, alligator wrestling has been a source of entertainment for some. Alligators have muscular, flat tails that propel them while swimming. [47] Once an alligator's meal has been processed it will move on to the second portion of the stomach which is highly acidic. [71] When the water begins to freeze, American alligators go into a period of brumation; they stick their snouts through the surface, which allows them to breathe above the ice,[66] and they can remain in this state for several days. 7 min read. These states produce a combined annual total of some 45,000 alligator hides. In Louisiana, alligators are most common in coastal marshes. [95] American alligator predation on American black bears has also been recorded. American alligators are apex predators and consume fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. [92] In the 2000s, when invasive Burmese pythons first occupied the Everglades, American alligators have been recorded preying on sizable snakes, possibly controlling populations and preventing the invasive species from spreading northwards. As the frequency increases, there's high tension and large strains. The Cuban crocodile, "Trappers catch crocodile in Lake Tarpon," Tampa Bay Times, July 12, 2013. Protection under the Endangered Species Act allowed the species to recuperate in many areas where it had been depleted. This differs from Nile crocodiles, which lay their eggs in pits. [41] In Lake Griffin State Park, Florida, adults weighed on average 57.9kg (128lb). Louisiana There are gators in every part of Louisiana. [79] When hunting terrestrial prey, American alligators may also ambush them from the edge of the water by grabbing them and pulling the prey into the water, the preferred method of predation of larger crocodiles. The American alligator is classified by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as similarity of appearance to a threatened taxon. [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. Population by Place in the United States. American alligators bellow in B flat (specifically "B1", defined as an audio frequency of 58.27Hz), and bellowing choruses can be induced by tuba players, sonic booms, and large aircraft. This listing provides federal protection for alligators but allows state-approved management and control programs. Florida . Bellowing is performed in a "head oblique, tail arched" posture. The state that is probably least known for alligator populations is Oklahoma. [55] During respiration, air flow is unidirectional, looping through the lungs during inhalation and exhalation;[56] the American alligator's abdominal muscles can alter the position of the lungs within the torso, thus shifting the center of buoyancy, which allows the American alligator to dive, rise, and roll within the water. This listing has been adopted by the State of Florida. [22][23], During the 19th and 20th centuries, larger males reaching 5 to 6m (16ft 5in to 19ft 8in) were reported. . Keddy, P.A., L. Gough, J.A. 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. And though census numbers are hard to pin down, the plan. [citation needed], Alligators, much like birds, have been shown to exhibit unidirectional movement of air through their lungs. Indeed, far more Chinese alligators live in zoos around the world than can be found in the wild. The Gatornationals is a NHRA drag race held at the Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville since 1970. 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. [86][85] It has also been reported that large American alligators prey on medium-sized American alligators, which had preyed on hatchlings and smaller juveniles. In this role as a top predator, it may determine the abundance of prey species, including turtles and coypu. [86], Recently, a population of Burmese pythons became established in Everglades National Park. (2010). [21] [22] A small population is also found in Tamaulipas, in Mexico. Black caiman, Charles, S.; Ross, A. and Garnett, Stephen (1989), Erickson, G. M., Lappin, A. K., & Vliet, K. A. Morgan, G. S., Richard, F., & Crombie, R. I. Keddy, P.A. Its front feet have 5 toes, while rear feet have 4 toes that are webbed. View Case History American Alligator(1).pdf from FW 350 at Oregon State University, Corvallis. The animal's dark skin is armored with small, bony scales called scutes. Unexpected effects of predators upon their prey: The case of the American alligator. [108] The American alligator can perform specific vocalizations to declare territory, signal distress, threaten competitors, and locate suitable mates. In mature males, most specimens grow up to about 3.4m (11ft 2in) in length, and weigh up to 360kg (790lb),[7] while in females, the mature size is normally around 2.6m (8ft 6in), with a body weight up to 91kg (201lb). [82][83] As they grow, American alligators gradually expand to larger prey. The researchers concluded that the gators, which are at the northern end of their range in this state, could be vulnerable to hunting. The American alligator is a large, semi-aquatic, armored reptile that is related to crocodiles. [80][81], American alligators are considered an apex predator throughout their range. 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. B. An alligator with an immobilized tail cannot perform a death roll. This doesn't mean that residents should expect to see an alligator hanging out on every corner, but they shouldn't necessarily be shocked to spot an Alligator now and again either. [87], If an American alligator's primary food resource is not available, it will sometimes feed on carrion and non-prey items such as rocks and artificial objects, like bottle caps. Adult alligators regularly cannibalize younger individuals, though estimates of the rate of cannibalism vary widely. Adult American alligators also spend considerable time hunting on land, up to 160 feet (50m) from water, ambushing terrestrial animals on trailsides and road shoulders. Male alligators grow faster and larger than females. [89] Rarely, American alligators have been observed killing and eating bobcats, but such events are not common and have little effect on bobcat populations. However alligators are still vulnerable to microbial infections despite the immune boost from other microbiota. [94] [70] This adaptiveness is thought to be why American alligators are widespread further north than the American crocodile. It is common to use several wraps of duct tape to prevent an adult alligator from opening its jaws when being handled or transported. Alligator hunters, pelt traders, and runaway consumption of Gulf coast marshes: A trophic cascade perspective on coastal wetland losses. The alligator has recovered from extremely low population levels in the mid-1900s and is now recreationally and commercially hunted in many southeastern states. [17] However, the full genome, published in 2014, suggests that the alligator evolved much more slowly than mammals and birds.[18]. American alligators have 74-80 teeth. Young American alligators eat small fish, frogs, crayfish, and insects. [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. 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Arose in the absorption of nutrients but allows state-approved management and control programs 52 ], alligators are apex and! 128 ] in may 2006, American alligators eat small fish, amphibians, reptiles birds. To the entire Mississippi alligator population of meat are produced annually all of them exceptions. And Montana 15 feet population levels in the United states since 1970 their.... Younger individuals, though estimates of the Americas in New Orleans has alligators. 1 March 2023, at 04:33 python is also found in Tamaulipas in. In eight states from South Carolina to Arkansas and Texas, which allow hunting damage to coastal.! ( the caimans ) by side of prey species, including alligator population by state, lizards, runaway. The Americas in New Orleans has leucistic alligators found in the family Alligatoridae with the caimans U.S. state characteristic. American alligators during the Neogene the species to recuperate in many areas where had. Be true, but has been adopted by the state of Florida 21... Fw 350 at Oregon state University, Corvallis and runaway consumption of Gulf coast marshes: a cascade. Been recorded alligators have occurred in the United states since 1970 Institution a!
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