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Animal Guide

Chinese Alligator

28 destinations · 19 states

Native Range
Lower Yangtze River basin of eastern China

The Chinese alligator is a small, heavily armored crocodilian that can look surprisingly prehistoric when seen up close. Its broad snout, ridged back, and dark, bony scales give it a rugged appearance, while its relatively compact size sets it apart from the much larger American alligator. Watch one resting beside water and you may notice how little it moves, conserving energy while keeping its eyes and nostrils above the surface. Chinese alligators spend much of their time in and around slow-moving wetlands, where they feed on fish, frogs, crustaceans, and other small animals. They are also skilled diggers and can create burrows that provide shelter from seasonal heat and cold. Young alligators have bright yellow bands and spots that gradually become less noticeable as they mature. Critically endangered in the wild, this species now survives in a very small area of its former range, making encounters at zoos and wildlife centers especially useful for seeing a crocodilian that few people encounter in nature.

Chinese Alligator

Where to see Chinese Alligator

28 destinations across 19 states

28 destinations

ABQ BioPark Zoo

Albuquerque, NM

Alexandria Zoological Park

Alexandria, LA

Alligator Adventure

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Bronx Zoo

Bronx, NY

Chattanooga Zoo

Chattanooga, TN

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Cincinnati, OH

Crocodile Encounter

Angleton, TX

Dallas Zoo

Dallas, TX

Detroit Zoo

Royal Oak, MI

Ellen Trout Zoo

Lufkin, TX

Great Plains Zoo

Sioux Falls, SD

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park

Fort Walton Beach, FL

Louisville Zoo

Louisville, KY

Memphis Zoo

Memphis, TN

Milwaukee County Zoo

Milwaukee, WI

Oklahoma City Zoo

Oklahoma City, OK

Peoria Zoo

Peoria, IL

Phoenix Zoo

Phoenix, AZ

Reptile Lagoon

Hamer, SC

Saint Louis Zoo

St. Louis, MO

San Diego Zoo

San Diego, CA

Santa Barbara Zoo

Santa Barbara, CA

Sedgwick County Zoo

Wichita, KS

Smithsonian National Zoological Park

Washington, DC

St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

St. Augustine, FL

Staten Island Zoo

Staten Island, NY

Tulsa Zoo

Tulsa, OK

Utica Zoo

Utica, NY

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