| The famous American Alligator, the only native species of Crocodilians found in Texas. Large males are usually around 12 to 14 feet and females max out around 9 feet. They are found throughout East Texas and along the entire Texas Gulf coast.
As adults, alligators are top predators in their ecosystems. Vertebrates of all orders have been found in their stomachs. Hatchings fall prey to a broad range of vertebrate predators. Diet of hatchings mostly consists of small fish, amphibians and invertebrates.
Alligator Breeding season in Texas starts early spring. The males will bellow to attract mates and establish a breeding territory. Nesting starts in July with the females laying around 40 eggs that take little over two months to hatch. The genders of the hatchings are determined by temperature. At lower temperatures, the eggs develop into females and at higher temperature they develop into males. It takes around ten years for hatching American Alligators to reach sexual maturity.
In 1968, Texas listed them on the state endangered species list, but after making a recovery, they were taken off the list in 1985. They are now listed as a game animal, with set hunting season.
Crocodilians have changed very little in the last 200 million years. Believe it or not, Crocodilian's closest living relatives are birds. Both orders have four chambered hearts and gizzards.
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