Alligator.

Alligator. Class Reptilia Order Crocodylia Family Alligatoridae Genus Alligator Species mississipiensis (American) sinensis (Chinese) Conservation The Chinese alligator is endangered due to habitat destruction and capture programs. Concerns Range Southeastern United States and the Yangtze River Basin of China. Habitat Freshwater lakes, swamps, rivers. Size American alligators measure up to 6 m (20 ft) long and weigh up to 250 kg (550 lb). Chinese alligators measure up to 2 m (6.6 ft) and weigh up to 23 kg (50 lb). Feeding Habits Alligators are carnivores; they eat fish, birds, turtles, frogs, and small mammals. Young alligators eat worms, small fish, and insects. Offspring The female alligator lays 30 to 40 eggs in a nest built of mud and plant material. The female guards the eggs as they incubate in the sun for about 60 days. Life Span Up to 50 years. Did You Know Alligators communicate using grunts, bellows, hisses, and other vocalizations. Unlike crocodiles, the alligator's two large lower teeth are hidden when its jaw is closed. The American alligator has webbed feet; the Chinese alligator does not. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.