Should you have any questions or complaints about alligators in your area, consult your local Fish and Game Commission. The history of the crocodilians dates back to the Triassic period, some 230 million years ago. Alligators and their kin are modern dinosaurs, having existed virtually unchanged for the past 65 million years. The crocodilians can be broken into four main groups, the alligators, caimans, crocodiles, and gharials. The alligator is found only in the southeastern United States and in China.
Alligators have a short, blunt and rounded snout .
Adults tend to be a grayish black in color while the young can be more colorful with yellow or white highlights on a black body. The Chinese alligator is quite small, only attaining a length of 6 feet. Fortunately, the American Alligator is not considered to be a man-eater. In the wild, alligators tend to exhibit a natural fear of man. Caimans are found primarily in Central and South America.