The American alligator is a large reptile that belongs to the genus Alligator within the family Alligatoridae. One of two extant alligator species, Alligator mississippiensis, the other being the Chinese Alligator, the American alligator is a formidable reptile native to the southeastern United States, prominently found in Florida and Louisiana.
The incubation period lasts about 65 days, and mothers are highly protective, guarding the nest from predators and assisting the young by carrying them to the water after they hatch. Once listed as an endangered species, the American alligator has made a remarkable recovery due to dedicated conservation efforts and is now classified as “Least Concern.”