Species Profile for American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

Taxonomy:

Listing Status:

General Information

The American alligator is a large, semi-aquatic, armored reptile that is related to crocodiles. Their body alone ranges from 6 - 14 feet long. Almost black in color, the it has prominent eyes and nostrils with coarse scales over the entire body. It has a large, long head with visible upper teeth along the edge of the jaws. Its front feet have 5 toes, while rear feet have 4 toes that are webbed.

States/US Territories in which the American alligator, Entire is known to or is believed to occur: Alabama , Arkansas , Florida , Georgia , Louisiana , Mississippi , North Carolina , Oklahoma , South Carolina , Texas
US Counties in which the American alligator, Entire is known to or is believed to occur: View All
USFWS Refuges in which the American alligator, Entire is known to occur: Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Santee National Wildlife Refuge
Additional species information

Current Listing Status Summary

Status	Date Listed	Lead Region	Where Listed
	07/27/1979	Southeast Region (Region 4)	Entire

» Federal Register Documents

Federal Register Documents

Date	Citation Page	Title
01/09/1986	51 FR 996 999	Findings on Pending Petitions & Description of Progress on Listing Actions; 51 FR 996-999
10/02/1978	43 FR 45513 45517	Proposed Reclassification of the American Alligator in Louisiana, and Proposed Changes to Special Rules Concerning the Alligator
12/04/1980	45 FR 80444 80448	Final Findings for Export of Bobcat, Lynx, River Otter, Alaskan Gray Wolf & Alaskan Brown Bear Taken in 80-81 Season
08/08/1980	45 FR 52849 52853	Revision of the Special Rule on the American Alligator
03/11/1967	32 FR 4001	Endangered Species List - 1967
08/10/1981	46 FR 40664 40669	Reclassification of American Alligator in Louisiana
01/07/1985	50 FR 811 812	Export of American Alligators Taken in 1984-85 Harvest Seasons in Texas; Final Findings of Scientific & Mgmt. Authorities; 50 FR 811-812
06/13/1979	44 FR 33916	Export Findings for American Alligator; Public Hearing on July 10, 1979
09/06/1979	44 FR 51980 51982	Changes to the Special Rule Concerning the American Alligator
11/25/1980	45 FR 78153 78156	Revision of Special Rule on American Alligator
05/31/1979	44 FR 31584 31590	Exports of Appendix II Species; American Alligator Proposed Export Findings for the 1979 Harvest Season
06/04/1987	52 FR 21059 21064	Reclassification of American Alligator to Thr. Due to Similarity of Appearance Throughout Remainder of its Range; 52 FR 21059-21064
10/12/1979	44 FR 59086 59094	Final 1979 Export Findings on American Alligator
07/08/1975	40 FR 28712 28720	Proposal to Reclassify the American Alligator; 40 FR 28712 28720 (Alligator mississippiensis)
06/20/1984	49 FR 25342 25348	Proposal to Reclassify Legal Status of American Alligator in Florida to Similarity of Appearance; 49 FR 25342-25348
10/31/1985	50 FR 45407 45409	Special Rule on American Alligator; 50 FR 45407-45409
01/10/1977	42 FR 2071 2076	Reclassification of American Alligator to Threatened Status in Certain Parts of Its Range; 42 FR 2071 2076 (Alligator mississippiensis)
06/20/1985	50 FR 25672 25678	Reclassification of American Alligator in Florida to Thr. Due to Similarity of Appearance; 50 FR 25672-25678
06/02/1986	51 FR 19760 19963	Proposal to Reclassify Legal Status of American Alligator Throughout Remainder of its Range to Thr. Due to Similarity of Appearance; 51 FR 19760-19963
10/12/1979	44 FR 59080 59086	Changes to the Special Rule Concerning the American Alligator
07/18/1979	44 FR 41894	Proposed Changes to the Special Rule Concerning the American Alligator
04/02/1985	50 FR 13054 13055	Notice of Findings on 4 Petitions & of Review of 1 Species; 50 FR 13054- 13055
06/25/1979	44 FR 37130 37132	Reclassification of the American Alligator in Nine Parishes in Louisiana
09/26/1975	40 FR 44412 44429	Reclassification of American Alligator and other Amendments; 40 FR 44412 44429 (Alligator mississippiensis)
10/23/1984	49 FR 42594 42597	Special Rule on American Alligator; 49 FR 42594-42597
10/12/1983	48 FR 46332 46336	Change Status of Amer. Alligator in State of Texas; 48 FR 46332-46336
05/01/1981	46 FR 24607 24611	ETWP; Proposal to Change the Legal Status of the American Alligator in 52 Parishes in Louisiana
04/30/1979	44 FR 25384 25386	Export of American Alligator, Bobcat, Lynx, River Otter, Alaskan Wolf, Alaskan Brown Bear, and American Ginseng - Procedures for Making 1979-1980 Export Findings
09/13/1982	47 FR 40196 40200	ETWP; Proposal to Change the Status of American Alligator in State of Texas
10/21/1980	45 FR 69844 69845	Final Findings for Export of American Alligator and American Ginseng Taken in 1980-81 Season

Special Rule Publications

Date	Citation Page	Title
01/10/1977	42 FR 2071 2076	Reclassification of American Alligator to Threatened Status in Certain Parts of Its Range; 42 FR 2071 2076 (Alligator mississippiensis)
10/31/1985	50 FR 45407 45409	Special Rule on American Alligator; 50 FR 45407-45409
12/04/1980	45 FR 80444 80448	Final Findings for Export of Bobcat, Lynx, River Otter, Alaskan Gray Wolf & Alaskan Brown Bear Taken in 80-81 Season
07/18/1979	44 FR 41894	Proposed Changes to the Special Rule Concerning the American Alligator
10/23/1984	49 FR 42594 42597	Special Rule on American Alligator; 49 FR 42594-42597
08/08/1980	45 FR 52849 52853	Revision of the Special Rule on the American Alligator
10/12/1979	44 FR 59080 59086	Changes to the Special Rule Concerning the American Alligator
09/06/1979	44 FR 51980 51982	Changes to the Special Rule Concerning the American Alligator
01/07/1985	50 FR 811 812	Export of American Alligators Taken in 1984-85 Harvest Seasons in Texas; Final Findings of Scientific & Mgmt. Authorities; 50 FR 811-812
11/25/1980	45 FR 78153 78156	Revision of Special Rule on American Alligator

» Recovery

Date	Citation Page	Title	Document Type
06/04/1987	52 FR 21059 21064	Reclassification of American Alligator to Thr. Due to Similarity of Appearance Throughout Remainder of its Range; 52 FR 21059-21064	Final Delisting, Recovered Final Listing, Similarity of appearance - T
06/02/1986	51 FR 19760 19963	Proposal to Reclassify Legal Status of American Alligator Throughout Remainder of its Range to Thr. Due to Similarity of Appearance; 51 FR 19760-19963	Proposed Delisting, Recovered Proposed Listing, Similarity of appearance - T

» Critical Habitat

No critical habitat rules have been published for the American alligator.

» Conservation Plans

No conservation plans have been created for American alligator.

» Petitions

» Life History

No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

» Other Resources

NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.