Claude (alligator)

Last updated

Claude
Albino Alligator 2008.jpg
Claude in 2008 in his swamp at the California Academy of Sciences
Species Alligator mississippiensis
SexMale
Hatched (1995-09-15) September 15, 1995 (age 29)
Owner California Academy of Sciences
Weight222 lb (101 kg)

Claude (hatched September 15, 1995) is an albino alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ) at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California, United States. Claude lacks the pigment melanin, resulting in colorless skin, and he has poor eyesight associated with his albinism.

Background

Claude was hatched on September 15, 1995, in Florida, weighing 2 ounces (57 g). [1] He was in danger in the wilderness owing to albinism, which did not allow him to camouflage into his surroundings like other alligators. He was initially raised at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park in Florida. [2]

Claude was taken to the California Academy of Sciences in 2008. [1] [3] Claude was originally housed with a non-albino female alligator named Bonnie. In January 2009, Bonnie bit one of Claude's right fingers. The finger developed an infection and needed to be amputated. [2] [4] Bonnie was subsequently moved back to Florida. [1] In April 2025, the California Academy of Sciences launched the ‘Claude Cam,’ a 24/7 livestream of Claude as he lounges, swims, and snoozes in his Swamp exhibit. [5]

Claude weighed 222 pounds (101 kg) and was 9 feet 5 inches (2.87 m) long as of 2013. [6] He has 76 teeth. [1] He appears completely white because he lacks the pigment melanin. [7] He also has poor eyesight due to his albinism. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Guthrie, Julian (September 14, 2010). "Albino alligator Claude to mark 15th birthday". SFGate. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Perlman, David (March 27, 2009). "Albino gator, minus a toe, returns to exhibit". SFGate.
  3. ↑ "Gators head for swampy S.F. home". SFGate. August 20, 2008.
  4. ↑ Rubenstein, Steve (February 9, 2015). "Tough times for koi continue as S.F. aquarium looks to sever ties". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  5. ↑ Vaziri, Aidin (April 2, 2025). "San Francisco's albino alligator Claude gets his own livestream webcam". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  6. ↑ Miguel, Ken (June 10, 2013). "Famous gator gets a check-up". ABC7 News. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  7. ↑ "The Swamp". California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.