Reptiles are a fascinating group of animals. Dinosaurs fall under this group but under a different category. They dominated the Earth due to their sheer size. It’s a trait that many reptiles continue.
There are still some large reptiles roaming today. The green anaconda is one example. The largest one on record was 5.21 meters long and weighed 97.5 kg. The Komodo Dragon and the Galapagos tortoise are also massive.
Is an alligator a reptile? It is. It’s also among the largest and heaviest reptiles around. They also look the most like a dinosaur. This becomes more evident if you look at some of the largest alligators caught over the years.
How Much Does a Alligator Weigh?
American alligators are always known for their size. The average male gator is around 10 to 15 feet long. That’s three to five meters long. The females are smaller than the males, but not by much. The average size for an adult female is around 8.2 feet or 2.6 meters. What’s interesting is that the tail takes up half of the alligator’s size.
The average male alligator can weigh anywhere from 500 to 600 pounds. That’s 227 to 272 in kilograms. To put it in context, a male alligator can weigh as much as a baby grand piano. Or a BMW R 1250 Gs Adventure.
Female gators are lighter than their male counterparts. Some male alligators have clocked in at 1,000 pounds. That’s half a ton! That’s as heavy as a 6-person hot tub or 4 full-size refrigerators.
What are the Biggest Alligators in the World?
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to alligators. These creatures vary in size, weight, and disposition. But some gators have broken the mold when it comes to size. Here are some of the largest ones the world has ever known.
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The Mandy Stokes Gator
Mandy Stokes was more a deer hunter than a gator vanquisher. But she did during one gator hunt. It reportedly took her almost one whole day before she subdued the reptile. Stokes and her family also struggled to get the gator back to shore. It was then reported that Stokes lashed her catch to her boat’s hull.
The Stokes alligator was 15 feet and 9 inches long. It weighed 1,011 pounds. It was so heavy it reportedly broke the winch used for weighing. The animal is now on display at the Millers Ferry Powerhouse.
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The Cottingham Alligator
Mike Cottingham caught this large gator during a trip with his hunting group. The gator’s head weighed almost 300 pounds. But the whole animal clocked in at 1,380 pounds. It was 13 feet and 3 inches long. They needed five people to bring it on board. The herpetologist who examined it said the gator was 36 years old.
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The Apalachicola Giant
The Apalachicola Giant is another one for the books. This gator was 13 feet long and 1,008 pounds heavy. It was then caught by Corey Capps of Blountstown. Capps was on his boat when he saw the alligator. He had a legal tag so he harpooned the animal. It was reportedly so heavy that it took him four hours to move the gator 100 feet.
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Big Tex
Big Tex was the largest alligator caught alive in Texas. He was often seen at the Trinity River Wildlife Refuge. He was 13 feet,8.5 inches long. He weighed in at 900 pounds. Reports said his capture was because he stopped being afraid of humans. He was then transferred to the Gator County exhibit.
Why are They So Big?
Alligators are among the largest reptiles. They are massive by nature. It’s the result of their history and evolution. But not all will grow to such an immense size. These are the exceptions and not the rule. These gators might be massive due to a quirk in their DNA. There are other factors that could influence their size as well.
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