Biggest reptile in the USA By: RLM

 Its scientific name is Alligator mississippiensus  Biggest reptile in USA  Lives in southern USA

 15 to 25 feet long  Long, sharp teeth  Green, scary eyes  Green, black or brown scales  Big nostrils  Weigh up to 1,000 pounds, but usually 500 pounds  Strong jaws  Long tail  Four short, stubby legs—two on each side of body

 Alligators live in China and southern USA  Swampy areas  They live in swampy areas because they can cool down

 Comes out of the water in sunny weather  Hibernates underwater during the winter

 Alligators can live up to 40 years in the wild  Alligators can live up to 85 years in captivity

Prey: ( what animals eat them):  Humans—even though it is illegal Predator: ( what animals they eat):  Warthog  Fish  Frogs  Birds  Crabs  turtles

 Makes noise to attract mate  Puts young in mouth to protect  Puts body over nest to keep eggs warm

 Alligators have babies a time  It takes days to hatch

 Puts babies in mouth to protect  Puts body around nest to keep eggs warm  Bellows to attract a mate

 Alligators have green- black skin to look like a log  See through eyelids to see underwater  big snout to crush prey  A protective armor plated skin

 Powerful jaws to crush bone  Haves a flap in mouth to keep out water  Has to get in water to cool or else it dies

 The longest was 21ft long  The heaviest alligator was 1,000 lbs  1 airplane crash per year is caused by an alligator  Alligators are in the crocidillian family