An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant species in this genus, the American alligator and the Chinese alligator). Additionally, several extinct species of alligator are known from fossil remains. Alligators first appeared during the Oligocene epoch about 37 million years ago.

The male of the American alligator is the largest with the female somewhat smaller. However the female of the American alligator is still larger than the Chinese alligator.

The name alligator is most likely an anglicized form of el lagarto, Spanish for the lizard, which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator. Then later, the English spellings of the name included allagarta and alagarto.

Alligators are only native to the United States, Mexico and China. Alligators live in freshwater environments only.

When they construct alligator holes in the wetlands, they increase plant diversity and provide habitat for other animals during droughts. They are, therefore, considered an important species for maintaining ecological diversity in wetlands. Farther west, in Louisiana, heavy grazing by coypu and muskrat are causing severe damage to coastal wetlands. Large alligators feed extensively on coypu, and provide a vital ecological service by reducing coypu numbers.

The Chinese alligator currently is found in only the Yangtze River valley and parts of adjacent provinces and is extremely endangered, with only a few dozen believed to be left in the wild. Indeed, far more Chinese alligators live in zoos around the world than can be found in the wild.

There is no sun to be seen this morning with the heavily overcast sky. Arising slowly, I start the engine and prepare myself for the day, then drive to the Seawolf w-mart and go in to prepare for today's Bible study which is such an encouraging lesson. At nine-thirty am, I head for the hall.

Then I drive south out of League City to Alvin, Texas, where I turn on Texas highway 1462 through Roshannon, arriving at Brazos Bend State Park before three pm, go into the nature center where I see not only alligators, but specimens of all four of the poisonous snakes found here in Texas. While I am in the nature center, I find out that there is a ranger guided wildlife walk at four this afternoon on the pier.

When the ranger arrives at the pier, he begins to spot both birds and alligators, none of which I had seen before he arrived but I am able to photograph most of them.