This is an American alligator. It is also called a gator, and its scientific name is Alligator mississippiensis. They are found in Florida and all the rest of the Gulf coast states. When Spanish explorers first came to Florida, they called this animal “The lizard.” In Spanish, this is “el lagarto,” and this turned into the word alligator as time passed.
The one in the picture above lives at Gatorland in Orlando, Florida. I saw this alligator when I was 2 years old. A few weeks ago, I saw more alligators at SeaWorld. The picture below is of baby alligators. I think baby alligators are cute. What do you think?
Large adult American alligators weigh about 800 pounds and are about 13 feet long. They eat fish, birds, turtles, snakes, mammals, and amphibians. They have very powerful jaws. Most alligators have stones in their stomach. Alligators swallow their food whole, because they can bite, but not chew their food. So the stones grind up their food while it is in their stomachs. The stones also help the alligator sink in the water while it is swimming.