The American alligator can grow up to 11.2 feet (3.4 meters) long and weight nearly half a ton (1,000 lbs. or 454 kilograms), according to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Chinese alligators are smaller, growing to around 4.6 to 4.9 feet (1.4 to 1.5 m) long and usually weighing only around 50 lbs. (22.7 kg). read more
The alligator, like most reptiles, is a cold-blooded animal that relies on its environment for body heat. It is a very good swimmer that can stay underwater for up to eight hours without taking a breath! On land, it is capable of short bursts of speed at about ten miles per hour. read more