Few sights in the animal kingdom are quite as arresting as an American alligator staring head-on towards you. All sharp teeth and thick armour, they strike an imposing figure. Yet, like most animals, they have a gentle side, too.
The American ‘gator’ (Alligator mississippiensis) is a large reptile native to the southeastern United States. It is one of two living alligator species – the other is the Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) – and belongs to the crocodilian group.
Adult males typically grow 3.5–4.5 metres long and can weigh over 450 kilograms, while females are smaller. They live in freshwater habitats such as swamps, marshes, rivers, lakes and wetlands, especially in Florida and Louisiana.
These carnivores feed on fish, turtles, birds, mammals and occasionally carrion, while young alligators eat insects and small aquatic animals.
American alligators have evolved to become efficient hunters, yet they also have a soft side. This set of astonishing images shows them both at their most powerful and their most gentle.
Aerial shot looking down on a large group of alligators resting in a swamp in Florida. Credit: Getty
Two alligator hatchlings basking in the sun – alligators are cold-blooded, relying on external heat sources to regulate body temperature. Credit: Getty
An American alligator eating a white ibis. Credit: Getty
An alligator resting on the bed of a swamp in Big Cypress National Park, Florida. Credit: Getty
As apex predators, alligators help maintain wetland ecosystems by controlling populations of fish, birds, turtles and mammals. Credit: Getty
Once endangered, American alligator numbers have recovered due to legal protection and effective conservation management. Credit: Getty
A gator basks on railroad tracks near the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: Getty
American alligators can live for over 50 years. Credit: Getty
A juvenile black-crowned night heron catches a small alligator hatchling at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Credit: Getty
Alligators have webbed feet and muscular tails, making them strong swimmers. Credit: Getty
A great white egret hitches a ride on the back of an American alligator. Credit: Getty
A gator cruises through Honey Island Swamp in Louisiana. Credit: Getty
Despite their fearsome reputation, alligators usually avoid humans and attacks are rare when the animals are respected and undisturbed in natural shared environments. Credit: Getty
These apex predators can grow up to 4.5 metres long, with powerful jaws capable of crushing turtle shells and holding struggling prey securely. Credit: Getty
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