The Future of the Alligator Snapping Turtle
Before you start reading this is optional you DO NOT have to read this. Also all this is SPECULATION who knows what could happen in the future
The alligator snapping turtle population could be separated from the common snapping turtle because of time and location. The common snapping turtle is hunted and weak compared to its kin. A smooth shell, duller claws and jaw compared to the alligator snapping turtle. It also is known that the common turtle lives on land while the alligator snapping turtle lives in the water. These could have changed some of it physical behaviors like color and shell. The common snapping turtle has a duller and smoother shell so it can fit in more to the land environment while the alligator snapping turtle has a darker green and ridged shell to fit into the water environment.
The alligator snapping turtle lives in fresh land water in the southern part of American where it is safe. The females are the only ones that leave the comfort of the water and to only venture on land to lay eggs. The water has lots of food for this species and with their physical properties of dark skin and shell it helps camouflage it from humans and other things that could threaten it. The freshwater area where they are born is where they live, mate, and die.
Five weeks ago on June 5th a hurricane happened in America it hit mostly the everglades and some southern states. This is where the alligator snapping turtle lives but a couple days ago researchers have found that some of them escape to the midwest most of them going to the states by the great lakes. Remember during the summer season the midwest and southern states usually are both humid, but the southern states are humid subtropical climates while the area by the great lakes are humid continental climates making the summers cool or warm. So far the researchers decided to leave some of the turtles in this area to see what evolution would happen.
So far it has been almost five years of leaving the alligator snapping turtles in the midwest. The researchers have decided to capture some of the turtles to see some of the physical changes then they are going to put them back in the water with trackers and waterproof camera.
It seems that the alligator snapping turtle has changed only a little bit. Physically the ridges on the turtle’s shell has gotten duller, less sharper claws and jaw, and the color has become more dull like. Their behavior seems the same and some of the eating habits are different though. They eat things that are common to the midwest and when it is time to hibernate they do what most turtles do. They dig a deep hole and bury themselves in it till spring or they stay in the lakes and rivers that they live in. They are pretty much the same besides of a couple new traits or they might not have a specific trait anymore. The live in the same area lakes, rivers, and other places of water.
They do not mate with other turtles and keep with themselves. This is because of different behavior habits and still physically look different. It also that the common snapping turtle is from the genus chelydra and the alligator snapping turtle is from the macrochelys gene. This might not seem like a big deal, but this means that the DNA and cells of each turtle is different so no mating would happen. Also the alligator snapping turtle eats other turtles such as the common snapping turtle so the only time they come in contact with each other is during this time.
They do not mate with other turtles and keep with themselves. This is because of different behavior habits and still physically look different. It also that the common snapping turtle is from the genus chelydra and the alligator snapping turtle is from the macrochelys gene. This might not seem like a big deal, but this means that the DNA and cells of each turtle is different so no mating would happen. Also the alligator snapping turtle eats other turtles such as the common snapping turtle so the only time they come in contact with each other is during this time.