An alligator, sometimes known as a gator, is a big reptile belonging to the genus Alligator, family Alligatoridae, order Crocodilia. There are two extant species: the American alligator (A. mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator (A. sinensis). In addition, fossil remains have revealed numerous extinct alligator species. Alligators initially arose approximately 37 million years ago, in the late Eocene epoch.

The name “alligator” is most likely an anglicized version of el lagarto, the Spanish term for “the lizard,” which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida referred to as an alligator. Early English spellings of the name included alagarta and alagarto.

Alligators and caimans diverged in North America around the early Tertiary or late Cretaceous periods (about 53 million to 65 million years ago). The Chinese alligator diverged from the American alligator approximately 33 million years ago and most likely descended from a lineage that crossed the Bering land bridge during the Neogene. The Pleistocene fossil record includes numerous examples of current American alligators. The alligator’s complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced in the 1990s. The entire genome, revealed in 2014, indicates that the alligator evolved far more slowly than mammals and birds.

What is the difference between a crocodile and an alligator?
Alligators are dark-colored with a large, rounded snout and are typically found in fresh water. Crocodiles are grayish-green and favor coastal, brackish, and saltwater environments. They have a small, tapering, and triangular nose.

What do gators eat?
Alligators are opportunistic eaters. Their diets consist of plentiful and easily accessible prey species. Juvenile alligators feed mostly on insects, amphibians, tiny fish, and other invertebrates. Adult alligators consume tough fish, snakes, turtles, small animals, and birds.

Where do alligators live?
The American alligator lives in the United States, from North Carolina to the Rio Grande in Texas. Alligators are typically found in freshwater, slow-moving rivers. They also reside in swamps, marshes, and lakes. They can only withstand salt water for a short time since they lack salt glands.

Which is more dangerous, alligator or crocodile?
Alligator versus Crocodile | Everglades Holiday Park
Most people confuse alligators and crocodiles. While they share many characteristics, they could not be more different from a qualified professional. Crocodiles are generally more aggressive than alligators, making them more deadly.

Who wins: crocodile or alligator?
What’s the difference between an alligator and a crocodile?
In a direct confrontation between the two animals, the crocodile would prevail. Although the alligator is faster, the following are the reasons why the crocodile would win: Crocodiles are generally larger and heavier. Crocs’ bites are more dangerous because of their size and strength.