1. American Alligator By Caden

2. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISITCS  Alligators can have a length of 18 feet.  Alligator weigh between 450 and 600 lbs.  The alligator’s colors are black, green, and brown.

3. LIFESPAN  An alligator’s lifespan is between 30-50 years.

4. EATING HABITS  Alligators are carnivores and that means they eat meat.  Alligators eat animals such as fish, turtles, various mammals, birds, and reptiles.

5. POPULATION  There are about five million alligators left in North America.

6.  Alligator lives in Flordia, Southeren Texas, Louisiana, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.

7. ADAPTATIONS  The alligator’s claws help it scratch its prey.  The alligator’s tail helps it swim.  The alligator’s teeth help it rip flesh.

8. FUN FACTS  An alligator has no vocal cords.  Alligators became the official state reptile of Florida in 1987.

9. ENDANGERED BECAUSE  The alligator is endangered because it is hunted, getting hit by cars, and losing its habitat.

10. REFERENCE  Defenders of the Wild. 2012. Defenders of the Wild. 2012.  www.defenders.org www.defenders.org