AnAge entry for Alligator mississippiensis

Classification (HAGRID: 03567)
Taxonomy	Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia (Taxon entry) Order: Crocodilia Family: Alligatoridae Genus: Alligator
Species	Alligator mississippiensis
Common name	American alligator
Synonyms	Alligator mississipiensis, Crocodilus mississipiensis
Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits
Maximum longevity	73.1 years (captivity)
Source	ref. 485
Sample size	large
Data quality	high
Observations	These are long-lived animals that appear to show indeterminate growth. In captivity, they can reach sexual maturity at 6 years of age. In the wild, food availability influences growth and sexual maturation with food scarcity being linked to a slower growth and a delayed maturity [0586]. A decline in egg production in females over 30 years of age has been reported [0527].
Life history traits (averages)
Female sexual maturity	4,380 days
Male sexual maturity	4,380 days
Adult weight	150,000 g
Metabolism
Typical body temperature	295ºK or 22.2ºC or 71.9ºF
Resting metabolic rate	0.1539 W
Body mass	1079.0 g
Metabolic rate per body mass	0.000143 W/g
References
[0586] Lance (2003), Alligator physiology and life history: the importance of temperature, PubMed [0037] Gillooly et al. (2001), Effects of size and temperature on metabolic rate, PubMed [0019] Patnaik (1994), Ageing in reptiles, PubMed [0527] Castanet (1994), Age estimation and longevity in reptiles, PubMed [0485] Andrew Snider and J. Bowler (1992), Longevity of Reptiles and Amphibians in North American Collections, Second Edition
External resources
Integrated Taxonomic Information System	ITIS 551771
Animal Diversity Web	ADW account
Encyclopedia of Life	Search EOL
Genome Project	Search NCBI
Entrez	Search all databases Entrez Taxonomy search
Ageing literature	Search Google Scholar Search PubMed Search Scirus
Images	Google Image search
Internet	Search Google

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