American Alligators, Not Crocodiles, Inhabit the Mississippi River

American Alligators, Not Crocodiles, Inhabit the Mississippi River

The Mississippi River does not have crocodiles. It is home to the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), a large freshwater reptile native to the southeastern U.S. Alligators are common in the river's lower reaches (Louisiana, Mississippi), as well as in adjacent swamps, marshes, lakes, and bayous. They are distinguished from crocodiles by their broader, U-shaped snout, darker color, and preference for freshwater. Crocodiles (American crocodile) are found only in southern Florida's coastal brackish/saltwater habitats, not the Mississippi River proper.