Newborn Gators Can Swim Faster Than Michael Phelps (and Other Fascinating Alligator Hatchling Facts)

Have you ever thought about the fact that alligators look an awful lot like dinosaurs? Maybe this is because they are very old creatures. Maybe you’re curious if a bite from a baby alligator would hurt, or if they even have any teeth when they’re born. When it comes to alligator hatching facts, we have you covered!

#1: A baby alligator is called a hatchling.

Baby alligators are called hatchlings. Hatchlings break free of their shell using their egg tooth, or caruncle, which they often lose shortly after hatching.

#2: Alligator hatchlings are ancient.

Alligator ancestors date back to the Late Cretaceous period, around 85 million years ago. Alligators are one of the oldest animals in the animal kingdom and share some traits with ancient dinosaurs.

They can be traced back to the Cretaceous Period, which is not known for being a kind period to live in. At that time, Earth was going through a lot of changes, evolving into what it is today. For example, the continents were shifting, it was hot, and sea levels were rising. Many things stood in the way of the alligator’s legacy, but they endured and remain a strong species today! 

#3: Alligator hatchlings have many teeth.

At birth, hatchlings have anywhere from sixty to eighty teeth! They have a mouthful of tiny little razor blades that could do a good amount of damage if given the opportunity. One of these teeth is called a caruncle, or an egg tooth, that helps them break free of the egg by breaking through the shell. Baby alligators lose this egg tooth shortly after hatching.

#4: Baby alligators talk before they hatch.

When it comes time for the babies to hatch, they start letting out high-pitched whimpering noises. This noise sounds similar to crying puppies and signals their impending emergence from their egg. After hatching, the babies are still very vocal, and for a tiny scaly creature, it’s actually quite a cute noise. Hatchlings are laid in eggs inside a mound of sand, dirt, and dried grass, and they immediately start to call out for their mother so she will return to the nest and greet her newly hatched babies.

#5: Baby alligators are one of the fastest reptiles in the world.

While baby alligators may be smaller than their crocodile cousins, they are certainly faster. Alligators can run at speeds of up to 11 miles per hour on land.

Alligators live in two places in the world, the United States and China, where they are nearly extinct. Alligators can swim at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. All around, alligators are very fast creatures, therefore — for your safety — if you see one in the wild, you should be calm and quiet and back away.

#6: Male baby alligators grow throughout their lives.

There’s no doubt that male alligators grow to be larger than their female counterparts. However, female alligators only grow for about ten years after birth. Males, on the other hand, continue to get bigger throughout their entire lives! Male alligators can weigh beyond 1,000 pounds! Although they can grow that long, the average male alligator only measures about eight to eleven feet long.

#7: Male or female? Depends on the temperature.

Whether the hatchling is a male or female largely depends on the temperature of the nest. If the nest is cool, odds are the hatchling will be female. If it’s warm, a male will likely hatch.

#8: Hatchlings have great reflexes.

Even newly hatched, hatchlings have great reflexes. They can snap at insects and small fish, which make up part of their diet, almost immediately.

#9: Hatchlings are mini but fast-growing.

When they first hatch, baby alligators measure about 6-8 inches. After that, they grow at a rate of approximately a foot per year until they reach their final size.