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Chinese alligator in shallow water

Chinese alligator

Chinese alligators, also known as Yangtse alligators, spend the winter hibernating in burrows. They are nocturnal. They mostly eat molluscs and fish, but are known to catch birds and mammals upon occasion - leading to conflict with farmers when they eat domestic ducks.

Scientific name: Alligator sinensis

Rank: Species

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Distribution

Map showing the distribution of the Chinese alligator taxa

Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.

The Chinese alligator can be found in a number of locations including: Asia, China. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.

Habitats

The following habitats are found across the Chinese alligator distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.

Behaviours

Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.

Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web

Conservation Status

Critically Endangered

  1. EX - Extinct
  2. EW
  3. CR - Threatened
  4. EN - Threatened
  5. VU - Threatened
  6. NT
  7. LC - Least concern

Year assessed: 1996

Classified by: IUCN 2.3

About

The Chinese alligator (simplified Chinese: 扬子鳄; traditional Chinese: 揚子鱷, (yáng zǐ è) Alligator sinensis) is one of two known living species of Alligator, a genus in the family Alligatoridae. It is native only to eastern China.

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