Alligatoridae

Alligatoridae Temporal range: Cretaceous - Holocene,[1]83–0 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Crocodilia
Clade:	Globidonta
Family:	Alligatoridae Gray, 1844
Subfamilies
Alligatorinae Caimaninae Incertae sedis †Orientalosuchus

Alligators and Caimans make up the second largest family of the crocodilians, Alligatoridae. There are 4 genera and about 7 known species of Alligatorids. Alligatorids range in size depending on species. The Chinese alligator (Aligator sinensis) is usually about 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) while the American Alligator (A. mississippiensis) is usually 4 m (13 ft). The largest American alligator was 5.79 m (19.0 ft) long. The Black Caiman of the Amazon can reach as much as 6 m (20 ft).

Alligatorids live in the southern United States, Central America, northern South America and near the Yangzee river in China.

1. ↑ Family Alligatoridae (Alligators and Caiman) Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine University of Bristol. Quote:"The Alligatoridae appears in the Upper Cretaceous while the genus Alligator first occurs in the Oligocene."