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How Fast Are Alligators?
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American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) entering open water in a wetland near Sarasota, Florida. Alligators live along the edges of permanent bodies of water. They spend most of their time in the water, hunting, but they spend the early part of the day on land, basking in the sun to increase their metabolism.

How Fast Are Alligators?

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In the water, alligators can reach swimming speeds of up to 32.2 kilometers per hour (20 miles per hour), using their powerful tails to propel them efficiently. This ability enables them to be stealthy hunters, lurking beneath the water’s surface or near the shoreline to catch unsuspecting prey.

On land, alligators can reach speeds of up to 17.7 kilometers per hour (11 miles per hour). This speed is typically used for short bursts, such as when they are moving quickly into the water from a bank or when they need to escape a threat. Their unique body structure, with a semirigid “I-beam” spine, allows them to maintain an erect posture when moving on land.

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