Alligators and Caimans: Alligatoridae

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) considers the Chinese alligator to be Critically Endangered, which means that it faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. It also lists the black caiman as Conservation Dependent, which means it still requires attention to make sure it survives. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists the American alligator, a U.S. species, as Threatened, or likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. These and other alligators and caimans often suffer from habitat loss and overhunting, and numerous conservation efforts are under way to protect them.