All about the Alligator Snapping Turtle

You're probably familiar with turtles. But have you ever heard of alligator snapping turtles? If so, did you know that their bite can be dangerous? By reading our article below, the alligator snapping turtle will no longer hold any secrets for you!

Present on Earth for nearly 10 million years, Alligator snapping turtles are:

Carnivorous turtles are super predators at the top of the food chain. You can't talk about an alligator snapping turtle without mentioning its rough jaw and skin, which are very similar to those of a crocodile.

At the end of this enjoyable read, you will know :

• Describe the physical appearance of an Alligator Snapping Turtle;

• Talking about his diet as well as his terrible bite;

• That Alligator Snapping Turtles are protected as a vulnerable species.

The Alligator Turtle

Its scientific name is Macrochelys temminckii , commonly known as the alligator snapping turtle. It belongs to the Chelydridae family and... yes, it's a carnivorous turtle. In fact, it's considered a super predator because in its habitat it's at the top of the food chain.

The alligator snapping turtle owes its name to characteristics such as: a jaw capable of delivering a very powerful bite, to the point of resembling - in proportion - that of an alligator*. In addition, its shell has several ridges and the extremely rough and wavy appearance of its skin is also reminiscent of that of an alligator.

The first traces of this species date back more than 10 million years, which is why they are considered true dinosaurs . Unfortunately, it is currently threatened by human poaching and habitat destruction.

Distribution

It lives only in North America (United States), primarily in the Mississippi Valley north of Kansas. It is also found throughout the Suwannee River and Florida River systems, east of Texas. This species is exclusively aquatic, only coming onto land to lay its eggs.

Physical description

In general, turtles tend to be slow and peaceful; at the first signs of danger, they hide in their shells for fear of being taken as prey. The alligator snapping turtle is an exception among all other turtle species; although it is not an aggressive species, if threatened, it is capable of defending itself by delivering bites that can be very dangerous even for humans.

Prehistoric morphology

As an adult, it can measure up to 75 centimeters and generally weigh between 80 and 100 kg. It has a large head and a tail as long as its shell and its body is covered with large scales . It has large claws and a powerful jaw. It is one of the largest freshwater turtles. The shell has 3 pronounced ridges that run from the beginning to the end. It can have a gray, brown, black or olive green coloring, very often covered with algae that helps it camouflage itself when it hunts for food.

The hunting technique of this turtle is very particular, it has a snout and a reddish vermiform tongue and takes advantage of its appearance to camouflage itself by pretending to look like a real stone or a real trunk. It places itself in the darkest areas with its mouth open, moving its tongue to encourage fish to approach. Its technique consists of imitating the behavior of a worm.

Hunting behavior

This reptile, over millennia of evolution, has developed a very effective hunting technique. Thanks to its coloring, it can camouflage itself against the seabed by keeping its mouth open. It uses its tongue, shaped like a small red worm, to attract fish. It can wait for days in the same position until a fish comes close enough. The jaw then closes in a fraction of a second, leaving its prey absolutely no chance. As an adult, the alligator snapping turtle includes other animals in its diet, such as ducks, small alligators, and even other members of its species.

Is his bite dangerous?

Although we now know that this turtle's bite is not as powerful as previously believed, it is important to note that it is still capable of crushing the shells of other turtles. There have never been any documented cases of deliberate aggression by the turtle against humans; however, there have been numerous cases of clumsy handling of the animal.

In some cases, an alligator snapping turtle bite can cause serious injuries, even leading to the loss of fingers. It can bite easily and is unforgiving of handling errors.

Food

They are turtles carnivores that eats everything it can catch and, more generally, everything it finds within reach! Although they have the reputation of being excellent hunters and predators , they often prefer wounded prey that can be caught easily. Being carnivorous and opportunistic, their diet is mainly based on fish or their carcasses, but also mollusks, snails, various carrion, amphibians…

Habitat

This turtle lives in the aquatic environments in this case rivers, lakes, swamps, marshes or others watercourse that can tolerate it. It prefers warm, calm waters with few currents because it cannot withstand the cold. It is therefore part of the family of aquatic turtles . It likes muddy bottoms and abundant vegetation. Like other aquatic turtles (green turtle, European pond turtle ) and land turtles ( Greek tortoise , leopard tortoise , steppe tortoise ), the alligator snapping turtle can hibernate .

Reproduction

Sexual maturity is reached between 11 and 13 years of age, generally the male tends to be larger than the female. The breeding season turtle reproduction extends from September to March, of course, after mating, the clutch is made once a year. To dig the nests, the female uses her hind legs. Clutches are generally made during the day and can contain up to 40 eggs. turtle eggs will take between 100 and 140 days to hatch. The sex of the newborns depends on the degree of incubation .

How long does an alligator snapping turtle live?

Macrochelys temminckii has a highly variable average lifespan: in captivity, it lives between 20 and 70 years. However, the potential lifespan has not yet been determined: alligator snapping turtles are thought to live up to 200 years.

Alligator Snapping Turtle Price

If you're wondering how much an alligator snapping turtle costs, keep in mind that breeding them in our country is regulated. They are classified as a vulnerable species, and their trade has been restricted due to overharvesting. To own this non-native and dangerous species, an individual must have a prefectural opening order (APO) and a certificate of capacity. However, in regions where they are native, alligator snapping turtles are sometimes kept as pets. Due to their large size, managing adult specimens can become problematic.

Protection of the species

Turtles in general are endangered species that need protection. convention on international trade in wild fauna and flora threatened with extinction ( Washington Convention ) has objectives in this direction. It established a legal framework for the protection of certain species so that human activities that go in the direction of international trade does not harm the disappearance of these species. The alligator snapping turtle is therefore part of this protection framework. It is a vulnerable species included in the IUCN Red List of species in need of protection. This list includes, among others, the Florida turtle and the snapping turtle.

Buy an alligator snapping turtle

Since it is very difficult to own an alligator snapping turtle for the reasons mentioned above, we recommend looking at another species. The Hermann's tortoise, for example, can make a good pet.

For any information requests, do not hesitate to contact the Veterinary Services Department in your department.