What looks like a mix between a turtle, and alligator, and a rock? Hope you guessed it right! It’s the alligator snapping turtle. In this blog, I will teach you some facts about them.
General stats
- Size: 16-31 in. (40-80 cm)
- Max weight: 220 lbs (100 kg)
- Location: southeastern United States
- Lifespan: 20 – 70 years
- red list status: vulnerable
Appearance
As I have already explained, alligators snappers look like a mix between a rock, an alligator and a turtle. They are bumpy, rough, and brown. The tongue looks like a worm, acting as bait.
| Why does it look like a rock?The reason alligator snappers look like rocks is because it stays near water so much. When it lies down, algae grows on its shell, making it look like a mossy rock. |
| Why does it look like a turtle? I… think you can figure that out. It is a turtle! |
| Why does it look like an alligator?Why does it look like an alligator? It’s skin is rough, the tail has spikes like an alligator, and the shell is lined with points, like an alligator |
Feeding
Alligator snapping turtles eat fish, frogs, snakes, snails, worms, small water mammals, water birds, and even other turtles. Basically, this turtle’s not picky. Whatever comes into its territory that it can swallow is its prey. Alligator snapping turtles are ambush predators, waiting at the bottom of a river or pond, opening its mouth and wiggling its pink, worm like tongue. Any small fish or crustacean that is lured into its jaws will be crushed by the sharp beak of the alligator snapping turtle. The snapping turtle’s bite force is up to 176 kilograms of pressure per cm.
Habitat
Alligator snappers live in southeastern US rivers, swamps, and lakes, where prey is normally found. This is unlike their smaller but more aggressive cousin, the common snapping turtle, who has a much larger range, stretching from southern Canada all the way to northern Columbia. However, baby alligator snappers tend to live in smaller creeks.
Thanks for reading! -Written by EZ
DEC-XZ 