Alligator Feeding Habits: New Data and a Review

Abstract

Nutria (Myocastor coypus) and muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) are the predominant food items of alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) over 1.5 m in length in southeastern Louisiana (USA). Our data and a review of the literature on alligator diets indicate that the mammals are apparently major components of the diet of large alligators over much of their range, with fishes and crustaceans being more important to smaller alligators.