Alligators are found primarily in the southeastern United States and in China. American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) inhabit freshwater environments such as lakes, slow-moving rivers, swamps, marshes, and wetlands across the southeastern U.S. Their range extends from southeast Oklahoma and east Texas in the west, to North Carolina and Florida in the east. They are found in states including Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South and North Carolina, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Louisiana has the largest alligator population, followed by Florida, which also has a significant number. Other states with notable populations include Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas. American alligators prefer freshwater but can tolerate brackish water for short periods
. Chinese alligators (Alligator sinensis) are found only in the Yangtze River valley and adjacent provinces in eastern China, specifically in the Zhejiang and Anhui provinces. This species is critically endangered and exists mostly in captivity, with very few remaining in the wild
. In summary:
- United States: Southeastern states from Texas and Oklahoma to North Carolina and Florida, mostly in freshwater habitats.
- China: Yangtze River basin in eastern China, critically endangered and rare in the wild.
South Florida is unique as the only place where American alligators coexist with crocodiles
