Chinese Alligator

ANIMAL:
Chinese Alligator Alligator sinensis

Type of Animal:
Crocodilian

Habitat:
Freshwater areas (especially those w/ slow-moving water) & adjacent land nearby-rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, river backwater canals, rice paddies, irrigation networks, marshlands, ditches, wetlands, temporary pools, bases of mountains in areas w/ lots of grass/shrubs, areas transitioning between temperate, subtropical, & tropical, moist forests

Location(s):
Restricted to Yangtze River Basin area along East China Sea coastline. Formerly throughout lower Yangtze River Basin.

Appearance:
Black to dark gray w/ short broad snout pointing slightly upwards narrowing at the end, more armored than much larger American cousin.

Food/Diet:
Snails, crustaceans, fish, insects, birds, small mammals, mollusks, turtles, fruit, frogs, invertebrate larvae

Status in Wild:
Critically Endangered

Conservation:
Breeding in zoos, aquariums, wildlife parks, & breeding centers. Reintroductions into native range.

Lifestyle:
Mostly solitary though young can sometimes be found in small pods

Additional Info:

Called:
Male: Bull
Female: Cow
Young: Hatchling
Group: Pod
 
Weight:
Male: 79-99 lbs
Female: 50-79 lbs
Young: 2.5 lbs

Gestation:
9 weeks

Life Span:
50-70 years

Body Length:
Male: 4.9-5 ft
Female: 4.6 ft
Young: 0.5 ft

Tail Length:
2 ft

Adults have no predators while larger alligators, birds, & predatory fish prey on young.
 
Also called Yangtze Alligator & muddy dragon.
 
A fairly vocal crocodilian species, w/ adults bellowing during breeding season & young vocalizing to communicate w/ siblings & mom.
 
One of only 2 species of alligator in the world (the other being the more famous American Alligator) & only member of family Alligatoridae in Old World (other members of this family are 6 caiman species of C & S America).
 
They’ll often dig extensive earthen tunnels/burrows w/ multiple chambers, entrances, & pools. These highly useful for brumation in cooler months & as shelter in hotter weather, when they become nocturnal.
 
Sexually mature at 4-5 years old.
 
Highly endangered due to water pollution, hunting for meat/skin, persecution, habitat destruction, habitat conversion, dam building, medicinal trade, & natural disasters. There might be less than 200 in the wild, meaning more are in captivity than in wild.
 
Sex determined by nest temperature, w/ lower temps resulting in mostly females & higher temps producing mostly males.
 
Some of the smallest eggs of any crocodilian.
 
Tend to be very shy in wild.

Fun Fact(s):
While bite incredibly strong, jaw muscles are relatively weak.
 
It’s highly possible this animal was inspiration for Chinese dragon. One local name Yow-Lung or T’o in fact means dragon.
 
Marco Polo was 1st person outside China to write about this animal.