An alligator caught crossing a New York City street during rush hour has died unexpectedly.

A spokesman for Animal Care and Control of NYC said the 3ft alligator died on Friday morning. Police officers had discovered the creature crossing Ninth Avenue in Manhattan’s Inwood neighbourhood on Thursday evening.

They tweeted: “So this alligator was crossing 9th Ave in Inwood... no, really.”

The creature, which reportedly had duct tape over its snout, was then taken to the animal care centre, where staff named it CockadoodleQ, but it died a day later.

Police said authorities have not yet determined the alligator’s cause of death.

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