American alligator

Scientific Name: Alligator mississippiensis

The American alligator is another species endemic to the US and was placed on the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) endangered species list in 1967. This reptile is found along the freshwater coasts of the US East Coast and can live for up to 50 years in the wild.

American alligators were first threatened in the 1800s due to the demand for their hides, leading to widespread hunting and population declines. Their numbers declined further due to agriculture, chemical contamination, extreme weather events, and saltwater intrusion.

Robust conservation efforts have helped turn the tide for this species, including land management, limits on trade, research on the species, and farming and ranching practices that minimise their impact on alligators.

Thanks to conservation efforts, the American alligator was removed from the Endangered Species Act just 20 years after it was first listed. Between 750,000 and 1,000,000 American alligators now live in the US, and the IUCN classifies them as least concern.