The American alligator is a member of the crocodile family – living fossils from the Age of Reptiles – who have survived on earth for over 200 million years.
The American alligator is a member of the crocodile family – living fossils from the Age of Reptiles – who have survived on earth for over 200 million years. The American alligator populations reached an all-time low in the 1950s, primarily due to market hunting and loss of habitat. The species was listed as endangered in 1967 (under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966, a predecessor to the ESA), but made a significant recovery due to ESA protections and was removed from the list of endangered species in 1987. The recovery of the American alligator highlights the importance of habitat protection and conservation efforts in promoting species recovery.