American alligator

« Adult alligators can even attack large boars and deer! »

A giant reptile

A genuine aquatic colossus

The alligator is a large reptile, in fact, it is one of the largest crocodilians in the world, measuring up to 4.5 metres in length and weighing more than 450 kilos. It mainly lives in the United States, especially in Florida, Louisiana, and on the banks of the Mississippi. It can be distinguished from the crocodile by its flat, broad and rounded muzzle, as well as by its dentition: in crocodiles, the fourth tooth of the lower jaw remains visible when the mouth is closed, whereas, in alligators and caimans, this tooth fits into a hole in the upper palate.

Alligator du Mississipi - Animaux extraordinaires du ZooParc

Did you know?

Alligator song

Un Œil en Coulisse - Season 5 Episode 18

The end of hibernation has sounded for alligators! It’s time to step out of inactivity and enter the mating season. This is what the residents of the pool at the Vivarium do quietly…

The Beauval Nature association

For the past 10 years, the Beauval Nature association has joined forces with field workers to support them in their primary mission of species conservation. Beauval works closely with numerous conservation and research programmes around the world to study and protect endangered species. This everyday action takes place in order to protect our biodiversity.

Get involved with Beauval Nature!

Beauval’s alligators

Beauval’s group of four alligators recently moved into the equatorial dome.

They used to live separately but now live together in one single, fabulous space. Come and watch them both in and out of the water. Come and watch them both in and out of the water!

Alligator news

Alligator albinos - Animaux extraordinaires du ZooParc

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Learn more about the species

Range

America

Diet

Carnivore
Incubation

65 days
Clutch size

35 to 50 eggs
Habitat

Freshwaters, Wetlands

Alligator reproduction

This species is polygamous, with males mating with the different females in their territory. It is, however, the females that woo the males from April onwards! The female then prepares a nest that is mostly made of vegetation, in which she will lay an average of about forty eggs, in July. The young alligators will then be born at the end of August and will need all the maternal attention they can get to survive their first year or will fall prey to predators in the surrounding area.

The white alligator

Some alligators are born with leucism or albinism. They are therefore completely white! This colouration makes them sensitive to sunburn and badly camouflaged and results in them being unable to survive in the wild. However, they do very well in zoological parks thanks to the care provided by their keepers, and you can see some of these animals at Beauval!

When the appetite goes, everything goes!

Young alligators feed on fish, insects, snails, frogs, and crustaceans. As they grow, they will attack larger and larger prey, such as turtles and raccoons. Adult alligators can even attack large boars and deer! Attacks on humans by this super-predator are rare but not impossible as humans have encroached on their habitat. However, such attacks only occur in defence, when alligators feel threatened.