Alligators are large reptiles that belong to the order Crocodilia, which also includes crocodiles, caimans, and gharials. Alligators are native only to China, Mexico, and the United States. They are not found in any other country, including Canada.
Crocodilians can heal from injuries and regrow lost toes, tails, and teeth. However, they cannot regrow limbs. This is because they have a low population of stem cells in their limbs.
Alligators are expanding their range northward and have been spotted in several counties in Tennessee, including Shelby, Hardin, and Fayette. Lakes and rivers with alligators in Tennessee include Lake Chickamauga, Lake Barkley, Reelfoot Lake, the Mississippi River, the Tennessee River, and the Wolf River Wildlife Management Area.
Florida is home to one of the largest population of alligators in the world, with an estimated 1.3 million individuals. Alligators can be found in all 67 counties in Florida, and they can be found in a variety of habitats, including swamps, marshes, lakes, rivers, and even urban areas.
Texas is home to the largest alligator population in the United States, with an estimated 500,000 individuals. Alligators can be found in a variety of freshwater habitats throughout the state, including swamps, marshes, rivers, and lakes. They are most common in the eastern and southeastern parts of the state, but they can also be found in central and western Texas.
There are an estimated 1,000-1,500 alligators in North Carolina. Alligators are found in freshwater marshes, swamps, and lakes along the coast of North Carolina, from Brunswick County to Gates County.
Georgia is one of the US States with the highest amount of alligators. Alligators are also more likely to be found in lakes, rivers, and swamps than in other types of waterbodies.