
One of the largest freshwater turtles in the world, the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) is a prehistoric-looking species with a reputation as the ‘dinosaur of the turtle world'. It has a camouflaged, ridged upper shell (carapace), a large head and powerful, hooked, beak-like jaws, which, together with its thick, scaly skin and oversized claws, all contribute to its primitive look and set it apart from other freshwater turtles. The three large, pronounced ridges running down the length of the dark brown to blackish shell somewhat resemble those on the back of an alligator, and earn the species its common name. The shell also often has algae growing on it, which adds to the snapping turtle’s camouflage. The tail is almost as long as the shell itself and, together with the chin, throat and neck, is coated with long, pointed tubercles. The alligator snapping turtle has an unusual way of luring prey; the tongue contains a small, pink, worm-like projection (lure), which is grey at rest but suffused with blood when active, and is wriggled to attract prey into the turtle’s mouth.
Gallery
Books
See Also
- Characters
- Animals
- North American Animals
- Turtles
- Alien Movie-Spoofs
- Scribblenauts Animals
- Kolmården Wildlife Park Animals
- Tropicarium Kolmården Animals
- Carnivores
- Denver Zoo Animals
- Saint Louis Zoo Animals
- National Zoo Animals
- Cincinnati Zoo Animals
- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Animals
- Zoo Leipzig Animals
- Brookfield Zoo Animals
- Lowry Park Zoo Animals
- Abilene Zoo Animals
- Birmingham Zoo Animals
- Memphis Zoo Animals
- Oklahoma City Zoo Animals
- San Antonio Zoo Animals
- Toronto Zoo Animals
- Total Drama Animals
- The Jungle Bunch Animals
- Reptiles and Amphibians Dictionary Animals
- I See a Kookaburra Animals
- Predator Showdown Animals
- Predator Splashdown Animals
- SpongeBob SquarePants Animals
- The Wild Thornberrys Animals
- Reptiles
- Green Characters
- The Loud House Animals
- Sharks and Predators of the Deep Animals
- Real-Life Monsters Animals
- Puppy Dog Pals Animals
- Life Size Books Animals
- Reptiles (Life Size Books) Animals
- Snakes and Reptiles The Scariest Cold-Blooded Creatures on Earth Animals
- Over 100 Questions and Answers to Things You Want to Know Animals
- Reptiles (Over 100 Questions and Answers to Things You Want to Know) Animals
- Macmillan Animal Encyclopedia for Children Animals
- Eyes On Nature Animals
- Wild Creatures (Eyes On Nature) Animals
- The Simpsons Animals
- Cyberchase Animals
- Valerie Davies' Incredible Reptiles and Amphibians Animals
- Valerie Davies Animals
- Rural Ramblings Animals
- The Animal Book (Steve Jenkins) Animals
- Steve Jenkins Animals
- Catscratch Animals
- Fantastic World of Animals Animals
- Zoo Tycoon Animals
- Freshwater Animals
- Danny Phantom Animals
- Chowder Animals
- Homer Almighty Animals
- Nature's Deadliest Creatures Animals
- Claws (Heather Dakota) Animals
- Heather Dakota Animals
- Fish Hooks Animals
- Nickelodeon Animals
- Non-Disney Animals
- Ed, Edd n Eddy Animals
- Emmett's Stuffed Toys Animals
- Bizarre Beasts Animals
- Scaly, Slippery Reptiles Animals
- 100 Facts: Reptiles and Amphibians Animals
- Red Dead Animals
- Skansen Animals
- Dora the Explorer Animals
- Exotic Pets
- Tap Zoo Animals
- Pokemon Animals
- Zoo 2: Animal Park Animals
- Fearsome Reptiles Animals
- Jose and the Lion Gods Animals
- Canopy Books Animals
- Real Life Monsters (Canopy Books) Animals
- Crikey! It's The Irwins Animals
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Animals
- Bindi the Jungle Girl Animals
- Predators (Smart Kids) Animals
- Zoboomafoo Animals
- Robin Page Animals
- Rolling Hills Zoo Animals
- Matthew Rake Animals
- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Animals
- The Magic School Bus Animals
- Trickiest (Extreme Animals) Animals