Few sights in the animal kingdom are quite as arresting as an American alligator staring head-on towards you. All sharp teeth and thick armour, they strike an imposing figure. Yet, like most animals, they have a gentle side, too.
The American 'gator' (Alligator mississippiensis) is a large reptile native to the southeastern United States. It is one of two living alligator species – the other is the Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) – and belongs to the crocodilian group.
Adult males typically grow 3.5–4.5 metres long and can weigh over 450 kilograms, while females are smaller. They live in freshwater habitats such as swamps, marshes, rivers, lakes and wetlands, especially in Florida and Louisiana.
These carnivores feed on fish, turtles, birds, mammals and occasionally carrion, while young alligators eat insects and small aquatic animals.
American alligators have evolved to become efficient hunters, yet they also have a soft side. This set of astonishing images shows them both at their most powerful and their most gentle.
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