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American Crocodile

Crocodylus acutus

Reptile · family Crocodylidae · order Crocodilia

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G3: vulnerable[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

American Crocodile
Photo: Tomás Castelazo, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Endangered (some populations)[1]
NatureServe global rank
G3 Vulnerable[2]
Native in
1 state[3]
Longest recorded life
47 years[4]

The American crocodile is a reptile in the crocodile family[5]. In the United States NatureServe records it as native only in Florida[3], and it is listed under the Endangered Species Act[1][6].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the American crocodile a global rank of G3, which it labels Vulnerable[2]. Its national rank in the United States is N2, which means Imperiled[7]. Under the Endangered Species Act, the animal is Threatened in Florida, a listing from October 28, 1975[6]. Everywhere else it is found, it is Endangered, listed March 20, 2007[1]. International trade is controlled under CITES Appendix I[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Endangered, listed March 20, 2007 (Wherever found, except in U.S.A. (FL))
Endangered Species Act[6] Threatened, listed October 28, 1975 (U.S.A. (FL))
NatureServe global rank[2] G3 (Vulnerable)
NatureServe US rank[7] N2 (Imperiled)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[9] Vulnerable
CITES (international trade)[8] Appendix I
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] 2500 to 100,000 individuals

Where American Crocodile lives

NatureServe lists the American crocodile as native in one US state or territory, and that place is Florida[3]. NatureServe also gives Florida its own state rank[11]. The federal Threatened listing covers Florida[6]. A list of states is where the animal is recorded, so it is not a promise that you will see one.

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: native, state rank S2FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (1 states)
StateRankMeaning
FloridaS2Imperiled

Habitat

NatureServe describes a mix of coastal and wet places, including mangrove swamps, salty and brackish bays, lagoons, marshes and tidal rivers[12]. Some animals wander widely in coastal waters and may move inland into lakes and the lower parts of big rivers[12]. Outside the breeding season they mostly use water that is not salty, and they move to salty water to breed[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[13]

Size, diet and lifespan

Adults are believed to eat mostly fish, and they probably also take large invertebrates and some mammals, birds and turtles[14]. Young crocodiles feed mainly on small water animals without backbones[14]. NatureServe records a typical length of 460 cm (181 in)[15]. Females reach sexual maturity at 3,652 days of age[16]. The longest recorded lifespan is 47 years, and that record comes from an animal in captivity[4]. The eggs are placed in a built-up mound or in a hole dug into the ground[12].

Trait Value
Typical length[15] 460 cm (181 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 47 years (captivity)
Female maturity[16] 3,652 days (about 10.0 years)
Food habits[17] Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore
Migration[18] local migrant

When to look for it

NatureServe records a circadian activity pattern for adults, which means a daily rhythm[19]. It also lists the animal as a local migrant, and populations can differ[18]. Online observation records in the United States are highest in January, March and December[20]. These records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[20].

January: 375 recordsJanFebruary: 308 recordsFebMarch: 465 recordsMarApril: 282 recordsAprMay: 172 recordsMayJune: 158 recordsJunJuly: 158 recordsJulAugust: 106 recordsAugSeptember: 87 recordsSepOctober: 90 recordsOctNovember: 264 recordsNovDecember: 352 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[20].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January375
February308
March465
April282
May172
June158
July158
August106
September87
October90
November264
December352

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Washington, Texas[21]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Safety around this animal

These tips are quoted in summary from official agencies. We add no advice of our own. Follow local rules and the agency pages linked below.

From Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

  • Never feed an alligator, and keep your distance when you see one.
  • Swim only in designated swimming areas and only in daylight.
  • Keep pets on a leash and away from the water's edge.
  • Serious injuries from alligators are rare in Florida. FWC runs a Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission[22]

Questions people ask

Is the American crocodile endangered?
It is Endangered under the Endangered Species Act wherever it is found except Florida[1]. In Florida it is Threatened[6]. NatureServe ranks it Vulnerable globally[2].
Where does the American crocodile live in the United States?
NatureServe lists it as native in one state, Florida[3]. It uses coastal waters such as mangrove swamps, bays, lagoons and tidal rivers[12].
What does the American crocodile eat?
Adults are believed to eat mostly fish, and probably also large invertebrates, mammals, birds and turtles[14]. Young ones feed mainly on aquatic invertebrates[14].
How big is the American crocodile?
NatureServe records a typical length of 460 cm (181 in)[15].
How long does the American crocodile live?
The longest recorded lifespan is 47 years, from an animal in captivity[4]. That is a record and not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Under the US Endangered Species Act, American crocodile has the status Endangered, listed March 20, 2007 (USFWS ECOS). Listed entity: Wherever found, except in U.S.A. (FL). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for American Crocodile: G3 (Vulnerable). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists American Crocodile as native in 1 US state or territory: Florida. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 47 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is a reptile in the family Crocodylidae, order Crocodilia. NatureServe Explorer
  6. Under the US Endangered Species Act, American crocodile has the status Threatened, listed October 28, 1975 (USFWS ECOS). Listed entity: U.S.A. (FL). States in the listed range: Florida. USFWS ECOS
  7. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N2 (Imperiled). NatureServe Explorer
  8. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix I (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  9. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Vulnerable. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 2500 to 100,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe state ranks for American Crocodile (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for American Crocodile. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Habitat types NatureServe records for American Crocodile: Sand/dune, Riparian, Medium river, Creek, Low gradient, Shallow water, Bay/sound, River mouth/tidal river, Lagoon, Tidal flat/shore, Herbaceous wetland, Scrub-shrub wetland, Forested wetland, Near... NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on food for American Crocodile. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 460 cm (181 in). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 3,652 days (about 10.0 years). AnAge
  17. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  18. NatureServe migration category for American Crocodile: local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  19. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Circadian. NatureServe Explorer
  20. GBIF observation records of American Crocodile in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  21. US states with the most GBIF observation records of American Crocodile: Florida, Washington, Texas. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  22. Safety guidance from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Florida FWC

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Tomás Castelazo, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.