An alligator is a large reptile with a long body, powerful jaws, and thick, scaly skin that lives in freshwater rivers, lakes, and swamps. Alligators are carnivores that hunt fish, birds, and mammals, using their muscular tails to swim and their strong jaws to catch prey. They can grow over 13 feet long and live for decades.

Only two alligator species exist: the American alligator, found in the southeastern United States, and the Chinese alligator, a much smaller and rarer species. American alligators live throughout Florida, Louisiana, and other Gulf Coast states, where you might spot them sunbathing on riverbanks or gliding silently through murky water with only their eyes and nostrils above the surface.

People often confuse alligators with crocodiles, but you can tell them apart: alligators have wider, U-shaped snouts, while crocodiles have pointier, V-shaped snouts. Alligators also have an overbite, so when their mouths close, you mainly see their upper teeth. Crocodiles show both upper and lower teeth.

Alligators were once endangered but made a remarkable recovery thanks to conservation efforts. Today, they're common enough in some areas that residents have to watch for them in canals and golf course ponds.