The scientific name of the American alligator is Alligator mississippiensis. The Chinese alligator is the only other alligator in the alligator family and its scientific name is alligator sinensis. The American alligator is part of the kingdom Animalia because it is an animal. The phylum is cordate because it has vertebrae. The American alligator belongs to the class Reptilia because it is cold-blooded, lays eggs in shells, has scaly skin and breathes air. Alligators are in the order of crocodilians because they are a large animal that appeared in the Cambrian stage. The American alligator is a member of the alligator family because it has a larger, broader snout and can withstand colder temperatures. The genus is alligator and the species is Mississippiensis (Florida nature, 2006). American alligators have many physical characteristics. Their size varies from six to twelve feet. An adult male can weigh up to one thousand two hundred pounds. The American alligator has a long, round snout with nostrils at the end. An alligator has two eyes at the top of its head. Alligators also have long, slender bodies with four legs and a long tail (EDIS, 2009). The American alligator lives in wetlands in the southeastern United States, from North Carolina to Texas. Wetlands are areas of standing water such as bogs, swamps, ponds and marshes. Alligators live primarily in freshwater wetlands, but sometimes in brackish water. Brackish water is water that contains more salt or saline water than fresh water. Alligators cannot live in salt water because they do not have an effective salt gland. American alligators live in a temperate climate with cold winters and hot summers. The average temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit per year and 40 to 60 inches of precipitation... middle of paper ... and food. Their skin is used to make high-quality leather. In 1950, American alligators were seriously endangered because humans hunted alligators too much. Then, in 1967, the Endangered Species Preservation Act stopped alligator hunting, and alligator numbers quickly increased. There are now millions of alligators and people are allowed to hunt alligators again. Alligators are losing habitat because wetlands are filled in to create land for homes, farms and industries. Alligators are very dangerous animals for humans. Alligator attacks occur about seven times a year, but few are fatal. When people feed them, alligators learn not to be afraid of humans. This causes more alligator attacks and the alligators become more aggressive towards humans. Ninety percent of all alligator attacks are caused by people feeding alligators. (linguistically,2005)