The Alligator Snapping Turtle is characterized by a large, heavy head, and a long, thick shell with three dorsal ridges of large scales (osteoderms) giving it a primitive appearance reminiscent of some of the plated dinosaurs. They can be immediately distinguished from the Common Snapping Turtle by the three distinct rows of spikes and raised plates on the carapace, whereas the Common Snapping Turtle has a smoother carapace. They are a solid gray, brown, black, or olive-green in color, and often covered with algae. They have radiating yellow patterns around the eyes, serving to break up the outline of the eye and keep the turtle camouflaged. Their eyes are also surrounded by a star-shaped arrangement of fleshy filamentous "eyelashes."
Ten Facts about Alligator Snapping Turtle
- The largest freshwater turtle in North America, the alligator snapper keeps to primarily southern U.S. waters, while the smaller common snapper inhabits lakes and streams from South America to Canada.
- These turtles can remain submerged for three hours. Typically only nesting females will venture onto open land.
- They weigh between 155 and 175 pounds (70 to 80 kg).
- They generally do not grow quite that large-average adult size is around 26 inches.
- It's diet includes Freshwater mollusks, fish, turtles, small vertebrates and carrion.
- Maturity is reached at around 12 years of age.
- Mating takes place yearly; early spring in the southern part of their total range, and later spring in the north. The female builds a nest and lays a clutch of 10-50 eggs about 2 months later.
- Incubation takes from 100 to 140 days, and hatchlings emerge in the early fall.
- Alligator snapping turtles are believed to be capable of living to 150 years of age.
- Predators includes a large bird (hawks), Sharks, crabs(the ghost crab), & humans.
