Report sightings of suspected exotic animal incursions
See it? Report it. Use the online form for any sightings of suspected exotic animal incursions.
Why is it important to report American alligator sightings?
American alligators are not native to Australia and could populate many of Australia’s slow-moving rivers, wetlands, and lakes. They can survive in low temperature water.
American alligators:
- can kill domestic animals such as dogs, cats and livestock
- can seriously injure or kill humans
- are an apex predator and will eat a wide variety of animals, including invertebrates, fish, birds, turtles, snakes, amphibians, and mammals
- will compete with native animals for food and shelter.
Description
The American alligator originates from southeastern USA where it inhabits freshwater wetlands from Texas to North Carolina. The American alligator:
- has a long u-shaped snout with upward facing nostrils at the end which allows them to breath whilst under water
- adult females’ average size is 2.6 m long while the males can be 3.4 m long
- have an armoured body with a muscular flat tail
- young have bright yellow stripes on the tail while adults have dark stipes, maturity is reached when they are 6 years of age
- can live up to 50 years.
Breeding
Both male and female American alligators reach sexual maturity when they are around 10 to 12 years old and about 1.8 m in length. The female usually lays between 35 and 50 eggs and will aggressively defend their young.