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The Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) is the largest fresh water turtle in North America. It is a larger, yet less aggressive, distant relative of the common snapping turtle. The epithet temminckii is in honor of Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck.
Distribution & habitat
Alligator snapping turtles are found predominantly in the United States, and range through the states Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and in southeastern Iowa, western Tennessee, western Kentucky, eastern Texas, northwestern and southwestern Georgia, and northern Florida.
Although rare, the alligator snapping turtle has been found as far north as the southern tip of Ontario in Canada. There is a population of them within a swamp near Glencoe, Ontario. It was confirmed by researchers from the University of Western Ontario who investigated claims of a dead 48 inch (nose to tail) turtle that was hit during the evening on a highway near the swamp. They were confirmed to be alligator snapping turtles, with at least 8 that are fully mature in the relatively small swamp and creek.
Like the common snapping turtle, the alligator snapping turtle lives in a primarily aquatic environment, such as slow moving streams, lakes, or swamps. Typically only nesting females will venture onto land. They are capable of staying submerged for as long as 50 minutes at a time.
Description
The alligator snapping turtle is characterized by a large, heavy head and a thick tail with a dorsal ridge of large scales which gives it a primitive appearance reminiscent of some of the plated dinosaurs. They can be distinguished from the common snapper by the three distinct ridges on the carapace, whereas the common snapper has a smoother carapace. They are a solid grey, brown, black, or olive green in color, and often covered with algae. They have radiating yellow patterns around the eyes, which serves to break up the outline of the eye and keep the turtle camouflaged.
There is an unverified report of a 403-pound alligator snapping turtle found in the Neosho River in Kansas in 1937, but the largest one actually on record is 236 lb which is housed at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, Illinois. They generally do not grow quite that large. Average adult size is around 26 inches shell length with a weight of 175 lb. Males are typically larger than females.
The inside of the turtle's mouth is camouflaged and it possesses a vermiform (worm-like) appendage on the tip of its tongue with which can use to lure fish.
The alligator snapping turtle has a tremendous bite strength like most turtles in the genus Macrochelys, and they can be very aggressive when they feel cornered. These turtles must be handled with extreme care.
Diet
Alligator snappers are primarily opportunistic carnivores, but are also scavengers. They will eat almost anything that finds its way into their mouth. They use their tongue as a lure to catch fish, since it looks like a worm. Their natural diet consists primarily of fish, invertebrates, carrion, and amphibians, but are also known to eat snakes, aquatic plants, and even other turtles. In captivity they have been known to consume almost any kind of meat provided, including rodents, beef, chicken, and pork.
Reproduction & life span
Maturity is reached at around 12 years of age, and they mate yearly, usually in the early spring in the southern states, but in the later spring in the more northern states. The female builds a nest and lays a clutch of 9-52 eggs about 2 months later. The sex of the baby alligator snapping turtles depend on the temperature the eggs are being incubated in. The high temperatures yield males whereas lower tempratures yield females. Nests are typically excavated at least 50 yards from the water's edge to prevent them from being flooded and drowned. Incubation takes from 100 to 140 days, and hatchlings will emerge in the early fall.
Their potential life span in the wild is unknown, but alligator snapping turtles are believed to be capable of living to 100 years of age. In captivity they typically live from anywhere between 20 to 70 years of age.
In captivity
Alligator snapping turtles are often captive bred and are readily available in the exotic animal trade, and are frequently kept as pets. Unfortunately, due to their potential size and specific needs, they do not make particularly good pets for all but the most experienced aquatic turtle keepers. Due to their sheer size, handling adult specimens can pose significant problems. Despite their reputation, they are typically not prone to biting, but are quite capable of delivering a bite with their powerful jaws which could significantly harm a human. Just one bite could cause someone to lose a finger. Some states, like California where alligator snapping turtles do not even range, prohibit the keeping of them as pets.
Conservation concerns
The alligator snapping turtle is primarily vulnerable to humans, from habitat loss and hunting. Some people hunt them for their shells. There are accounts of large (50+ lb) turtles being caught both purposely and accidentally on recreational fishing lines called "trot lines." Abandoned trot lines are thought to be more dangerous to turtles. Some people consider soup made out of the alligator snapping turtle's meat to be a delicacy. A famous Louisiana dish is turtle sauce piquante. The plastron of the turtle is valued by some because of its shape as a cross.
It is protected from collection through much of its range. The IUCN lists it as a threatened species, and as of June 14, 2006 it will be afforded some international protection and be listed as a CITES III species, which will put limits on exportation from the United States.
References
External links
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"Alligator Snapping Turtle"