MAXIMUM SIZE OF THE ALLIGATOR (ALLIGATOR-MISSISSIPPIENSIS)

The longest male and female alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) me asured in Florida during 1977-1993 were 426.9 cm and 309.9 cm total le ngth. The heaviest male and female alligators weighed 473.1 and 129.3 kg. A predictive model for calculating total length from head length i s presented. Estimated total lengths for three large alligators descri bed in the literature were substantially shorter than reported lengths . The longest alligator for which a total length can be corroborated f rom skull measurements was 454 cm. We discuss the plausibility of past reports of exceptionally large alligators with respect to verified le ngths of specimens, harvest pressure, growth patterns, and longevity.