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Macrochelys temminckii
Characteristics
- Alligator snapping turtles are the world’s largest freshwater turtle species. Shells can exceed 30 inches in length, and large males can weigh over 240 pounds.
- The turtles’ uniquely adapted tongues are wormlike appendages used to lure fish and other aquatic wildlife.
- Unusually long tails function as tripods, providing balance with the hind legs when the turtles raise their heads to the surface for air.
Habitat and Diet
- Alligator snapping turtles are native to slow-moving bodies of water in Georgia and the southeastern U.S., with a range extending along the Mississippi River as far north as Iowa.
- Wild diet includes aquatic animals such as mussels, fish and smaller turtles, as well as occasional plant matter and fruit.
Behavior
- Alligator snapping turtles are “sit-and-wait” predators, lurking at the water’s bottom and waiting for unsuspecting prey. Fish and other smaller creatures approaching closely enough to investigate the “worm” in the snapping turtle’s mouth are immediately crushed by the powerful jaws and swallowed.
- The species is fully aquatic, rarely leaving the water to bask. Alligator snapping turtles do not swim well and prefer to walk along the bottom. (Females will leave the water in search of sandy soil to lay their eggs.)
Status in the wild
Alligator snapping turtles are threatened in Georgia; the species is protected throughout most of its native range.
Reproduction
- Females typically lay around 10 to 45 eggs once a year in spring. Hatchlings dig their way out of the nest after about 90 days. The baby turtles are on their own: alligator snapping turtles provide no protection or care of their offspring or their nests.
- Fun fact: The incubation temperature of the egg determines the sex of alligator snapping turtle hatchlings. Cooler temperatures produce males; higher temperatures, females.
Lifespan
Alligator snapping turtles are very long-lived species, but lifespan has not been well-documented in the wild. Individuals have been known to live as long as 70 years in captivity.
Alligator snapping turtles in Georgia
- Because they leave the water so infrequently, alligator snapping turtles are not spotted as commonly as are other aquatic turtles. This species typically remains well below the water’s surface and does not seek interactions with humans.
- If you do spot one of these large, fascinating reptiles, treat it with respect and allow a wide berth! Alligator snapping turtles will bite if threatened, and a bite from even a medium-sized animal can cause injury.
Alligator snapping turtles at Zoo Atlanta
A longtime favorite among World of Reptiles visitors, the Zoo’s large male alligator snapping turtle thrives in a naturalistic aquatic habitat that is very appropriate for his species. Because these sit-and-wait predators must limit their movements in order to find food, they prefer to occupy limited territories, regardless of the size of the body of water. |
