The
American alligator (
Alligator mississippiensis), sometimes referred to colloquially as a
gator or
common alligator, is a large
crocodilian reptile endemic to the
southeastern United States. It is one of two living species in the
genus Alligator within the family
Alligatoridae; it is larger than the other
extant alligator species, the
Chinese alligator. Adult male American alligators measure up to in length, and can weigh up to . Females are smaller, measuring around . The American alligator inhabits freshwater
wetlands, such as
marshes and cypress
swamps from
Texas to
North Carolina. It is distinguished from the
sympatric American crocodile by its broader snout, with overlapping jaws and darker coloration, and is less tolerant of saltwater but more tolerant of cooler climates than the American crocodile, which is found only in tropical climates.