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Chinese Alligator | Ocean Park Hong Kong

Reptiles

Chinese Alligator

Scientific Name

Alligator sinensis

Other Common Name(s)

China Alligator, Yangtze Alligator

Body Weight

Up to 40 kg

Body Length

Up to 2 m

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A caiman rests on a rock at the water's edge.

Habitat

Wetland environments such as rivers and ponds

Diet

Freshwater snails, clams, fish, frogs, birds, and small mammals

Fun Facts

Living in the temperate regions, Chinese alligators hibernate in burrows during the cold from late autumn until early spring. The underground burrows may be complex with a lot of air holes. They usually emerge in May and bask under the sun to increase their body temperature.
The sex of Chinese alligators is determined by the temperature during the first few weeks of incubation. Lower temperatures between 28–31.5°C are more likely to produce females, while higher temperatures around 33°C are more likely to produce males.

Alligator resting in shallow water with a rocky background.

Alligator swimming underwater with a red mark on its head, light patterns on green rocks.

Distribution

Endemic to China and can be found in the lower basin of Yangtze River of China in the Anhui, Zhejiang and Jiangsu

Threats & Conservation

Threats

Overexploitation of Biological Resources
Pollution

Chinese alligators are threatened by habitat degradation and pollution. The wetlands they inhabit are converted to farmlands. As they spend a lot of time in underground burrows, some live beneath cultivated fields. Although these alligators are gentle, they are still feared by local people and considered as threats to livestock. They are usually killed when people encounter them. To conserve this species, the Chinese government established a protected area in Anhui province. The alligators are bred under human care and then released into the wild. Recent data indicate that the wild population is gradually recovering.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

Critically Endangered

Red List of China's Biodiversity

Critically Endangered

CITES

Appendix I

Conservation Regulations

Chinese Wildlife Conservation Law: Category 1
Protected under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong

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