American Alligator
The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), Florida’s official state reptile, is a large crocodilian, which occurs only in the southeastern United States. FWRI crocodilian research staff provide the scientific information needed for the FWC’s Alligator Management Program.
![a researcher collects a blood sample from an alligator](/media/21265/researcher-and-alligator.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=458&height=329&rnd=132088920220000000&format=jpg&quality=80)