Our USGS centers in Louisiana and Florida are no strangers to the American Alligator; these carnivorous reptiles call the southeastern United States home. Found almost exclusively in freshwater wetlands, lakes, and rivers, alligators can live to be 50 years old in the wild, and can grow as long as 10 feet (females) to 15 feet (males). Often confused with crocodiles, alligators can be distinguished by their broader, U-shaped snout, the placement of their teeth, and their preference for freshwater.