Alligator Snapping Turtle

Alligator Snapping Turtle Facts

• This visually astonishing product of natural evolution most frequently goes by the descriptive and informative common name of the Alligator Snapping Turtle. For the moment, the amazing creature has no other widely accepted general name. But then, this one says it all.
• Among herpetologists, though, it’s typically referred to by its purely technical moniker. That term, like so many others, however, is quite difficult for the layperson to pronounce. That’s because this wonder of Nature bears the technical title of Macrochelys temminckii.
• The animal received this title due to the efforts of the respected Dutch-American naturalist, Gerardus Troost. He accomplished the first formal recognition of it as a separate and distinct species. He accomplished this scientifically noteworthy action in the year 1835.
• Regardless of which name one chooses to use to refer to the animal, it’s an extraordinary creature. It represents the largest known variety of freshwater turtle on the continent it appears on. Though not a close relative, it’s often associated with the common snapping turtle.
• Sadly, the population of this marvel continues to decline. This unfortunate situation also seem to hold true throughout the entirey of its native range. Due to this trend, the IUCN presently lists the remarkable reptile as Vulnerable on its published Red List of Threatened Species.
• The fabulous Alligator Snapping Turtle faces multiple threats to its existence. It’s hunted for its flesh, and also remains very popular in the exotic pet trade. Habitat loss due to human expansion, also endangers it. It also now finds itself facing the danger of climate change.

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Alligator Snapping Turtle Physical Description

The amazing Alligator Snapping Turtle immediately captures the attention of those individuals who encounter it. Not surprisingly, though, the reptile does so for several reasons. Its pure appearance obviously startles most people. Yet it also impresses one with its sheer physical dimensions.

Like many of earth’s fauna, it also displays a certain degree of the physiological trait of sexual dimorphism. In its case, however, this characteristic manifests itself in terms of length and mass. It also does so to a relatively great degree. Males usually attain much greater measurements.

Fully mature adults of this species average a carapace length ranging from 13. 8 – 31.8 in (35 – 80.8 cm). Males tend to be on the slightly higher end of that range, while females typically hold down the lower end. Exceptional individuals of both genders do naturally sometimes occur, of course.

Average weights also vary widely, in keeping with this pattern. Females average closer to 35 – 50 lb (16 – 23 kg). Their male counterparts, meanwhile, average 176 lb (80 kg). An unconfirmed male specimen, though, reportedly achieved an astounding weight totaling 403 lb (183 kg)!

The heaviest confirmed example, a male, actually weighed a remarkable 249 lb (113 kg). Except for the size difference, the two sexes appear nearly indistiguishable. They’re known for the three ridges of large scales on the thick shells. This shows a mix of gray, brown, black, or olive green.

Yet the astonishing Alligator Snapping Turtle evolved even more intriguing physical adaptations. The extremely large, heavy head possesses a sharp, powerful beak. Even the inside of the mouth is camouflaged. Used to lure fish, a worm-like appendage appears on the tip of the tongue.

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Reptilia
• Order: Testudines
• Family: Chelydridae
• Genus: Macrochelys
• Species: M. temminckii

Alligator Snapping Turtle Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The attention-grabbing Alligator Snapping Turtle evolved as native to a moderately limited region of the world. The precise location of that swathe of the globe, however, might surprise some people. That’s because the natural wonder developed as endemic to a portion of North America.

There, its zone of habitation falls within the confines of the United States. Even there, though, the turtle only appears natively in the southeastern regions of the country. That territorial range extends from Florida west to Texas. From Louisiana that extends north as far as the state of Indiana.

The vast majority of specimens, live in the more southern parts of that range, though. Yet, in all areas it lives in, the animal displays extreme preferences in its choice of habitat. The reptile is typically only found inhabiting bodies of water that eventually flow into the Gulf of Mexico.

This category does include several types of smaller ecosystems, however. These includes areas of creeks, lakes, marshes, canals, and slow-moving rivers. The impressive creature also prefers the presence of features such as beaver dens, submerged dead trees, shrubs, and low-hanging trees.

Not surprisingly, the awesome Alligator Snapping Turtle evolved entirely as a carnivore. It’s also a highly opportunistic feeder. It both actively hunts for its various prey, and scavenges dead organisms. As a general principle, this powerful creature consumes virtually anything it can catch.

The principal components of its diet consist of fish, amphibians, mollusks, and carrion. But it’s also known to regularly consume snails, snakes, worms, insects, and crawfish. It even consumes the occasional plant. Larger individuals even eat such prey as birds, squirrels, and opossums!

Species Sharing Its Range

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