Meet Our Animals > Chinese Alligator
 
Quick Facts
Native to Yangtze River, China
Primary Diet Fish, snails, clams, mussels, small mammals, waterfowl
Adult Weight 50 to 88 pounds
Lifespan 50 years
Status Critically Endangered

Chinese Alligator

The Chinese alligator is one of the smallest crocodilians and one of just two alligator species in the world (the other being the American alligator). The native name for this species is Yow-Lung or T’o, meaning “dragon,” leading some to believe that the mythical Chinese dragon was, in reality, the Chinese alligator.

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