Characteristics of the Male and Female American Alligator

The American alligator is the only member of the alligatoridae family to be found wild in North America. It is a large predatory reptile which is found in the southeastern U.S. from Virginia south to Florida and west to areas of Texas. It is a species with little variation between sexes, although a few characteristics help to define male from female.

  1. Physical Characteristics

    • The American alligator has a long, broad body with olive brown to black scaly skin and a pale underbelly. The scales along the animal's back are thick, bony and plate-like, and run all the way to the tip of the muscular flattened tail. At a glance, males and females are identical with only their size possibly giving some indication of sex. Male alligators can reach lengths of 10 to 15 feet, while females tend to average just under 10 feet. This method is not flawless, however, and only a professional can absolutely determine an alligator's sex.

    Behavior

    • Young alligators tend to stay with their siblings in small groups for safety. Once the alligators are large enough they seek to develop their own territory. Adult males establish a territory of up to 2 square miles which they will defend against other males. Females have small ranges which they do not guard and these ranges tend to be near where they were born. Male and female territories overlap during the breeding season.

    Breeding Behavior

    • A good way to recognize a male is to witness the animal calling for a mate. The alligator stands in shallow water and performs a semi-audible rumbling growl that causes the water to vibrate. An alligator expressing aggressive behavior near or on a large pile of rotting vegetation is likely female and defending a nest of eggs. Males will not tend to be near these nests; females will try to drive them away as males might try to eat newborns.

    Choosing the Sex

    • The sex of alligators is dependent upon the temperature within the nest. Between 90 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit mostly males are born, while 82 to 86 degrees produces females. At temperatures between these ranges a mixture of both sexes is produced. Mothers open the nest to carry the newborns to the water and will protect them for the first few months. Males show no parental care for the young and are more likely to eat them, if given the chance.