Our American Alligators
Scovill Zoo Currently has 4 American Alligators:
G
– adult male - 33 years old
Elle
– adult female – approx. 20 years old
Wednesday
– young female
Pugsley
– young male
G and Elle are in the main habitat. Wednesday and Pugsley are part of the mobile
zoo. Our alligators were obtained from
resident confiscates. Alligators do not
make good domestic pets.
American Alligator Size
Males can grow up to 15 feet long, while females can grow up to 8 1/2 feet long.
American Alligator Life Span
Alligators can live to be 30-50 years old. Currently there is an alligator, named Muja,
that is approx. 80 years old in Germany.
He is thought to be the oldest living alligator in captivity.
American Alligator Housing
American alligators are found in the southeastern United
States (Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, and
Texas). They live in fresh water areas
like ponds, lakes, rivers, marshes, and swamps.
Alligators prefer warmer, humid climates.
American Alligator Food
The alligators at Scovill Zoo eat a diet of rats. The larger alligators eat 5-10 rats in one
sitting and the younger alligators eat 10-15 rats. When it’s warmer they eat 3-4 times per
week. When it’s cooler, they eat less,
about 1 time per week. Wild alligators
eat a wider variety of food such as fish, turtles, birds, deer, and other
reptiles and mammals.
American Alligator and Crocodile Differences
Alligators have a rounded nose, while crocodiles have a
V-shaped nose. Alligators are fresh
water reptiles and only their top teeth show when their mouth is closed. Crocodiles are salt-water reptiles and you
can see both top and bottom teeth when their mouth is closed. Ever heard of a crocodile smile?
References
Ryan Kirkland - Zookeeper
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