In today’s article, we answer the question, “Where do alligators live?” If you’re a young student learning about alligators, the following facts and information may help you in your school report or homework assignment.
Where Do Alligators Live?
There are two species of alligator, and each is found in a different part of the world. The American Alligator, A. mississippiensis, resides in the southeastern United States. The Chinese Alligator, A. sinensis, lives in eastern China. Both species of alligator lives in a tropical or subtropical area.
Below you will find a convenient and free printable that tells a bit about the habitat of the American Alligator. To access this download, please become a member of Tim’s Printables. Already a member, please remember to log in.
The American Alligator can be found in Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Texas. They live mainly in marshes, cypress swamps, and wetlands. They can also be found in lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams.
A wetlands is an area of land that is mixed with lots of water.
A marsh is the part of a wetland closest to the main water where plants grow that aren’t made of wood.
A swamp is the part of a wetland after the marsh, and closer to the wet land, where both plants and trees grow.
Well known swamps where alligators live in the United States include the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia and North Carolina, and the Everglades in Florida.
Alligators mostly swim in freshwater. If they need to, they can also live in brackish water, which is water that is a mix of fresh and salt water.
The Chinese Alligator lives in a small area of eastern China. It is a critically endangered species. In the past the alligators had a much larger habitat. Today, great parts of their old habitat have been transformed into rice paddies.
Related Printables
Here are a few more alligator-themed printables!
Sources
- Fairweather, Gari D. Alligators and Other Crocodilians. Chicago, IL: World Book, 2001. Print.
- Fowler, Allan. Gator or Croc? New York: Children’s, 1996. Print.
- Gibbons, Gail. Alligators and Crocodiles. New York: Holiday House, 2010. Print.
- Landau, Elaine. Alligators and Crocodiles: Hunters of the Night. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Elementary, 2008. Print.
- Markle, Sandra. Outside and inside Alligators. New York: Atheneum for Young Readers, 1998. Print.
- Simon, Seymour. Crocodiles & Alligators. New York: HarperCollins, 1999. Print.