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Chinese Alligator: Alligator sinensis In the Wild Description: Size: o Average length: 4.6-4.9 ft (1.4-1.5 m) o Range from 4.6-7.2 ft (1.4-2.2 m) o Sexual dimorphism: Males are larger than females Weight: Adults can weigh up to 88 lbs Yellow-gray in color, have 4 short, claw-tipped limbs with 5 partially webbed toes on each limb and a long, thick tail Habitat and Range: Currently restricted to the lower Yangtze River basin, located along the central Pacific coast of China in the southern part of Anhui Province and in some parts of the neighboring provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu In 1998, it was estimated that their geographic range had decreased by over 90% in the past 20 years – Chinese alligators were referenced in literature as early as the third century AD in other areas of China and possibly even Korea Live in a subtropical, temperate region of China – prefer wetlands, swamps, ponds, lakes and freshwater rivers and streams Diet: Carnivorous: Eat fish, snails, clams and the occasional small mammal or waterfowl Adaptations: Blunt teeth and short, strong jaws are adapted for crushing hard-shelled mollusks Have a long, thick tail used for propulsion in the water Partially webbed toes also aid in swimming Have osteoderms – dermal bone lying over the epidermis used as armor, covering both the back and underside of the body Since they are nocturnal and are rarely able to bask in the sun for heat, they use water to thermo-regulate – stay in the upper water columns heated by the sun to stay warm or move to shaded or deeper waters to cool off Lifespan: Live about 50-70 years Ecosystem relationships: Predators: o Adult Chinese alligators have only one predator – humans o Juvenile alligators and eggs are most at risk due to their size – despite the protection of the mother, young are often taken by larger animals such as other adult alligators, large birds and fish 07/24/2013 The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Chinese Alligator: Alligator sinensis Reproduction: Reach sexual maturity after 5-7 years Mating season occurs annually in June and nesting typically begins in mid-July Male alligators may mate with several females in one mating season; Females are known to have only one mate each season The female deposits 10-40 eggs into a nest mound that she constructs from decaying vegetation Females guard the nest from surrounding predators, whereas males have no parental involvement The eggs hatch in about 2 months Responding to their vocalizations, females will remove any debris covering the nest and bring offspring to the water – she may even help the hatchlings break out of their egg shells by slowly rolling them around in the mouth and lightly cracking the shell by pressing the egg between the roof of the mouth and tongue Sex of offspring is determined by the temperature of the egg during incubation – females are produced at lower incubation temperatures while males are produced at higher temperatures Hatchlings weigh about 1 ounce and average slightly over 8 inches long Rapid growth occurs for the first 5 years of life but continues slowly throughout life Activity: Nocturnal: Prefer to hunt at night Winter dormancy – brumation: o Dormant from late fall into early spring, when temperatures are cool o Create burrows on the banks of wetlands which are used throughout the year, but primarily in the winter o Burrows can also be very elaborate and may house more than one alligator o Will bask in the sun for warmth after emerging, but will then return to their nocturnal lifestyle Other “fun facts”: The Chinese alligator and the American alligator are the only species of alligator in the world o The Chinese alligator is much smaller than its American relative o Has a more robust head and its snout is tapered and turns up slightly at the end o Compared to the American alligator and crocodiles, the Chinese alligator is a docile species that does not pose any serious threat to humans Also sometimes called the Yangtze alligator The local name for this species is Yow-Lung or T’o, meaning “dragon” – some writers think that the mythical Chinese dragon was actually the Chinese alligator Conservation Status and Threats: Listed on CITES Appendix I 07/24/2013 The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Chinese Alligator: Alligator sinensis The Chinese alligator is protected in China as a "first-class rare animal," and hunting is prohibited – when wild alligators are observed, a conservation station is established at their den site, and a local farmer is paid to be responsible for the station by the National Forestry Department Listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered – there are thought to be less than 150 individuals alive in the wild today o Habitat destruction is identified as the primary cause for their decline The species’ traditional wetland habitat has been largely converted to rice paddies Luckily, the small region in which they have been confined to live is somewhat isolated – the Yangtze River basin floods every year, preventing its use as farm land and from permanent human residency o Hunted for their meat and internal organs for alternative medicine, especially to treat afflictions of the gall bladder o Also hunted for food o Susceptible to pollution, particularly water pollution which may affect its prey o Are not typically hunted for skin because the skin on their bellies, customarily used as a textile in other crocodilian species, is covered in osteoderms and therefore is considered inadequate The species has been successfully bred in wildlife refuges and in zoos, which maintain healthy populations – in 2003, the first captive-born Chinese alligators were released into their native range in an effort to revive the wild population; by 2008, 15 alligators were born to the captive-bred individuals that had been released At the Zoo Yang was hatched in 1998 at the Houston Zoo. He was received on loan in 2002 and ownership of Yang has since been signed over to the Maryland Zoo. What We Can Do Make environmentally responsible lifestyle decisions to help conserve habitat – conserve energy, reduce litter and pollution Make sure you know the origin of the products you buy – opt for fake leather products Support the conservation efforts of local organizations like the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo where efforts are being made to reintroduce captive-bred alligators to China References: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Alligator_sinensis/ http://philadelphiazoo.org/Animals/Reptiles/Crocodiles-Alligators/ChineseAlligator.htm http://www.stlzoo.org/animals/abouttheanimals/reptiles/alligatorsandcrocodiles/chi nesealligator/ http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/867/0 07/24/2013 The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Chinese Alligator: Alligator sinensis http://www.nagonline.net/Fact%20Sheet%20pdf/AZA%20%20Chinese%20Alligator%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf http://www.wcs.org/news-and-features-main/historic-hatching-in-china.aspx 07/24/2013 The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore