American Alligator

Alligator mississippiensis


American Alligators Florida

What could represent Florida better than the American Alligator? The name "Alligator" comes from the Spanish form el lagarto (“the lizard”), which the Spanish explorers and settlers, in Florida, called the Alligator.

American Alligator

The Alligator has a wider nose and darker color than the crocodile does. You can see the upper teeth when the Alligator's jaws are closed. You can see both the upper and lower teeth in a crocodiles mouth.

American Alligator in duckweed

On average they weigh about 800 pounds and are about 13 feet in length. The largest ever recorded, in Florida, was 17'5" long.

Alligator in water

Alligator habitat is in fresh or brackish marshes, bays, rivers, lakes, swamps, and ponds. They are typically shy and non-aggressive but can occasionally be a problem. Alligator diet includes gar fish, turtles, snakes, frogs, small mammals, and birds.

Although their bodies are heavy and their metabolisms are slow, they can generate short bursts of speed exceeding 30 mph.

Lunging Alligator Florida

Their jaws are very strong for biting and gripping prey, but muscles to open their jaws are very weak.  This Prehistoric Reptile has 80 teeth; 40 on the top and 40 on the bottom.

Gator Jaw Fossil
Alligator Jaw Fossil
Alligator Tooth Fossil
Botton of Alligator Tooth Fossil
Fossil Alligator Scutes

Fossil gator teeth and dermal scutes are very common in Florida. The dermal scutes are found just under the gators skin and are rectangular in shape. The scute has a distinctive ridge, which crocodiles do not have.


Alligator Fossils for Sale

- Click on each fossil picture below to learn more.


Alligator Scute Fossil for Sale

 Price: out of stock Item #: GAT021

Alligator Vertebra Fossil

      Price: $35          Item #: GAT019

Alligator Coprolite Fossil Poop

       Price: SOLD        Item #: GAT018


Gator Fossil Leg Bone

Price: out of stock Item #: GAT017

Alligator Tooth Fossil

Price: out of stock
Item #: GAT020

Alligator Tooth Fossil

Price: out of stock
Item #: GAT016


Gator Coprolite Fossil Poop

  Price: out of stock Item #: GAT015

Alligator Vertebra Fossil

  Price: out of stock  Item #: GAT014

Alligator Scute Fossil

 Price: out of stock Item #: GAT013


Alligator Scute Fossils

 Price: out of stock Item #: GAT012

Alligator Scute Fossils

 Price: out of stock Item #: GAT011

Alligator Tooth Fossil

 Price: out of stock Item #: GAT010


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