Alligator snapping turtles are the largest freshwater turtles in the world. Their heavy heads, strong jaws, hooked beak and spiked shells give them a prehistoric appearance.
Physical Description
The alligator snapping turtle's defining characteristics are its large head, strong jaws and hooked beak. It has a spiked, dark-brown carapace. Alligator snapping turtles have long, narrow tongues equipped with an appendage that looks like a worm to attract prey. Algae growing on these turtles' backs lends camouflage among the muddy river beds they inhabit.
Size
Males can weigh up to 90 kilograms (200 pounds) with a carapace length of up to 80 centimeters (31 inches).
Native Habitat
Alligator snapping turtles are native to the southern United States. They are found in rivers and streams that feed into the Gulf of Mexico. Their range stretches from Iowa, west into Texas, and east into Georgia and northern Florida. Genetic analyses revealed that there are three genetically distinct subpopulations of alligator snapping turtles, residing in the greater Mississippi River watershed, the Gulf coastal rivers east of the Mississippi River and the Suwannee River drainage system in Florida.
Alligator snapping turtles are predominantly aquatic, spending most of their time in the water. They can stay submerged for 40 to 50 minutes before needing to surface for air. They are only found in freshwater systems and tend to prefer the deeper beds of large rivers, canals and lakes. However, juveniles may be found in smaller streams.
Food/Eating Habits
Alligator snapping turtles are primarily carnivorous. They eat fish and other aquatic animals, but have also been known to eat small mammals and some vegetation. These turtles are most active at night and will scavenge or hunt for food. When hunting, these ambush predators stay motionless in the water and reveal the worm-like appendage on their tongues to lure unsuspecting prey.
Reproduction and Development
Alligator snapping turtles reach sexual maturity between 11 and 13 years. They tend to mate in early spring. Because they are typically solitary, they may have to travel to find a mate. The male mounts the back of the female and holds her shell with all four feet during copulation. Females then travel inland to dig nests in the sand. They generally lay only one clutch per year, or possibly one every other year. Clutch sizes range from 10 to 60, and the eggs incubate for about 100 days.