There are only two extant alligator species, i.e. the American alligator and the Chinese alligator.

Alligators mate underwater.

Having been extant for about 200 million years, the alligators are sometimes described as a 'living fossil'. Also, they have stayed almost unchanged in the past 65 million years.

The Chinese alligator is extremely endangered.

It is easy to differentiate an alligator from a crocodile. Look at the animal's mouth when closed, if only the upper teeth are shown, it is an alligator. If both lower and upper teeth are visible, it is a crocodile.

The name alligator comes from the Spanish term el lagarto, which means lizard.

Another difference between the alligator and the crocodile is that of the snout. Alligators have broad, U-shaped snouts, while crocodiles have V-shaped snouts.

American alligators are the largest reptiles in North America.

Hatchlings of the American alligator are only 6 to 8 inches long. Adult male American alligators grow 10 to 15 feet long on the average.

The largest American alligator ever reported was supposedly 19.8 ft (6 m) long, although there are doubts about the claim.

Although the American alligators can live for 60 to 80 years in captivity, they live for only 35 to 50 years in the wild.

Female alligators lay a clutch of 32 to 46 eggs, which hatch after an incubation period of 60-65 days.

Alligators kill larger prey like fully grown wild boars or even antelope by dragging them below the water's surface and drowning them.

Like mammals, the alligators and crocodiles have 4-chambered hearts. Rest of the reptiles have 3-chambered hearts.

Their ability to see in low-light conditions is due to a layer of cells called the tapetum lucidum. tapetum lucidum, which is a Latin phrase, means bright carpet.