• Nostrils and eyes are located on top of the head to allow the whole body to be submerged and still be able to breathe and see what is around them. 
• Sexual maturity is dependant on the size of the alligator and both sexes reach maturity at about six feet long. The female builds a nest that is five to seven feet wide and lays 25 - 50 eggs. She covers the eggs to keep them warm and protect them. Only about 50% of the eggs will hatch. 
• When the babies hatch, they are less then a foot long. The hatchlings are very vulnerable at this size and are adapted with stripes for camouflage. They will stay close to the mother for about three years, or until they are about four feet in length. Only about 80% of the hatchlings will survive to be four feet.
• The alligator is listed as a federally threatened species and are no longer considered endangered. They were hunted for their hide and human invasion severely decreased the population numbers. In the 1970's, the government made it illegal to hunt alligators. Beginning in 1974, the populations steadily began to increase.
• The difference between an alligator and a crocodile can be seen by their teeth. An alligator's bottom teeth fit into sockets in the upper jaw so that only the top teeth can be seen when the mouth is closed. Both sets of teeth can be seen when a crocodile's mouth is closed. An alligator also has a shorter, broader snout, where a crocodile has a longer, narrower snout. 
  

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