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Home | Animals | Reptiles | Testudines | Alligator Snapping Turtle
Alligator Snapping Turtle
| Scientific classification | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Family: | Chelydridae |
| Genus: | Macrochelys Gray, 1856[1] |
| Species: | M. temminckii |
Description
Snapping turtles are freshwater turtles that are found in the United States. There are three species of snapping turtle that are known to man, the common snapping turtle, Florida snapping turtle and the alligator snapping turtle. The alligator snapping turtle is mainly found in north America - in southern US waters and ponds. While the common snapping turtle habitat consists of lakes and streams from south America to Canada. Snapping turtles can remain submerged in water for more than 3 hours. Female snapping turtles come onto open land for nesting. Snapping turtles prefer water bodies with muddy bottoms, with some drifting wood and lots of vegetation. Snapping turtles found in northern parts of America hibernate in winter. People have also found snapping turtles living in icy waters.
Defense
The snapping turtle’s most noticeable trait is its hooked, parrot-like beak, which is used for both obtaining food and self defense. The neck is long and flexible, giving the turtle the ability to reach from around its shell and deliver a nasty bite to anything (or anyone) that threatens it.
Snapping Turtle Facts
Snapping turtles are generally considered harmless, but if you encounter one on land just step away. It can injure you with its sharp claws and strong jaws. The claws are powerful and dangerous enough to sever human fingers.
Snapping turtles are the largest fresh water turtles in the Unites states.
An adult snapping turtle can weigh up to 140 pounds and lives on an average for 40 years. While in captivity it has lived till 70. Learn more about the turtle life cycle.
It can be very defensive when handled, it has a striking speed of a rattlesnake.
Snapping turtles can't pull their head and legs in to their shells like other turtles. They are very slow and considered defenseless on land.
Female snapping turtles usually lay 20 to 40 eggs. They choose a location which is around 100 feet away from any water body.
As they are aquatic in nature, the shells of the snapping turtle are usually covered with moss. They are often mistaken to be flat rocks, when submerged in water. They can remain in water for long hours, so the next time if you are heading out for a swim to a nearby lake or pond. Keep your eyes open for a snout poking out from the water depths.
In the wild its main food are fish but if it's hungry it will also eat small turtles and other aquatic animals, they are also known to have a capacity of eating anything when there is a shortage of their favorite food. The alligator snapping turtle also attacks and eats small alligators.