American+Alligator

The American Alligator, ranges throughout the Southeastern area of the United States, primarily in freshwater swamps, marshes, rivers, lakes and smaller bodies of water. Although your average American Alligator resembles a common Crocodile in appearance, there are several differences between the two. The American Alligators are distinct from Crocodiles in that they do not possess buccal salt-secreting glands, which means that you will not usually find American Alligators in bodies of salt water. Alligators can tolerate colder conditions and therefore has a more northernly range than the crocodile. Alligators often create burrows or "gator holes" that fill with water and provide much needed habitat to other animals and plants. Male alligators typically reach 10-12 feet, with the longest recorded length so far being 19 feet 2 inches, female alligators are generally shorter. Alligator nests are constructed of decaying vegetation and can reach 7 feet in diameter. The heat of the nests determines the sex of the hatchlings. A nest temperature of 86 degrees or below will produce female hatchlings, while a nest that is 93 degrees or warmer will produce male hatchlings. At temperatures in between there is usually a mix of both female and males usually with a greater percentage of females. The american alligator was an endangered species throughout much of its range, but has made an excellent population recovery, it is no longer biologically endangered or threatened. It is, however, still on the endangered species list in a "threatened due to similarity of appearance" category. This designation allows the government to regulate the trading of hides and skins because the skins of the alligators are very similiar to those of the endangered crocodiles. Possession of either is illegal.
 * American Alligator**

__Reference:__
animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/**american**-**alligator**.html