Natural Selection
Variation
There are two different types of snapping turtles in the United States of America, the common snapping turtle and the alligator snapping turtle though both look very similar they are different.
Common Snapping Turtle
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Alligator Snapping Turtle
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Smoother and rounder shell
Oval head Does not have a fleshy lure Doesn’t have these structures |
Pointed shell that is bumpy.
Triangular pointed head Has a fleshy lure located on the bottom of its mouth. Has structures that resemble eyelashes |
On the left is a common snapping turtle and on the right is a alligator snapping turtle
The alligator snapping turtle sexually reproduces like most of its species this affect the genetic variation like one alligator snapping turtle would have a stronger shell and sharp claws and another turtle would have a weak and wimpy shell and claws. The first one would get the most likely chance to breed and the offspring will get its traits.
Selection
Many things can affect the way the alligator snapping turtle lives like the climate and environment. The climate affect it a lot because it needed to blend in with its environment. The ridges on its back looks like rocks, the green murky color, the lure located on the bottom of its mouth, and other traits are there to help it blend in to get food.
This is python that was found in Florida
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I have talked about this but it’s said they are no natural predator but since the hurricane in Florida, pythons have escaped pet stores into the Everglades. The warm temperature and good environment for the pythons made them be able to increase in size and the amount of eggs produced. The snakes have started to kill and eat animals and small children. The alligator snapping turtle though is a fearsome predator and is the largest freshwater turtle but compared to other creatures it is small. The snakes are getting bigger and this is starting to threaten this species of turtles in Florida.
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By threaten it could be many things whether it be the snakes taking the turtle’s prey or feeding on its young. Pythons like to eat mammals and birds, but if there isn’t enough of that they can eat fish, reptiles, and turtles. Also many alligator snapping turtles eat small mammals and birds as well this could cause fight to back out against the animals. Remember an alligator snapping turtle’s eggs and young are endangered because they have no parents to look after them and not much defense in them. They are small and snakes can easily eat them. If the amount of pythons start to grow along with the snake’s length this could cause a dynamic change in the turles. The might be force to have to grow up quicker and get stronger defenses to go head to head against this snakes.
Time
Time changes both selection and variation I don’t know what could happen but if the turtles started to change this might be how they could change. In a matter of years with the pythons getting bigger the turtles will be forced to change along with the snakes. The turtles will need a stronger shell and skin so if the snakes try to bit them it won’t harm them. They will need to get sharper and strongest claws and jaws to fight the snakes on. It will also help them if they grow in sizes as well. This will make the turtles themselves harder to attach and eat. The ability to mature fastly will be helpful as well because they won’t be as much as defenseless young also the ability to hatch faster will be helpful.
In a matter of years with the pythons getting bigger the turtles will be forced to change along with the snakes. The turtles will need a stronger shell and skin so if the snakes try to bite them it won’t harm them. They will need to get sharper and strongest claws and jaws to fight the snakes on. It will also help them if they grow in sizes as well. This will make the turtles themselves harder to attach and eat. The ability to mature fastly will be helpful as well because they won’t be as much as defenseless young also the ability to hatch faster will be helpful. This maybe possible by a strong female mating with an even stronger male. The combination of each trait will cause a stronger shell same with the jaws, claws, and other traits.
In a matter of years with the pythons getting bigger the turtles will be forced to change along with the snakes. The turtles will need a stronger shell and skin so if the snakes try to bite them it won’t harm them. They will need to get sharper and strongest claws and jaws to fight the snakes on. It will also help them if they grow in sizes as well. This will make the turtles themselves harder to attach and eat. The ability to mature fastly will be helpful as well because they won’t be as much as defenseless young also the ability to hatch faster will be helpful. This maybe possible by a strong female mating with an even stronger male. The combination of each trait will cause a stronger shell same with the jaws, claws, and other traits.
Sources
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24869532
http://www.chelydra.org/common_alligator_snapping_turtle.html
http://www.carlsams.com/inthewoods/2012/02/burmese-pythons-in-florida-everglades-decimating-wildlife/
http://www.arkive.org/alligator-snapping-turtle/macrochelys-temminckii/
http://www.birderslounge.com/2009/09/i-rescued-a-baby-alligator-snapping-turtle/
http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4523
http://www.chelydra.org/common_alligator_snapping_turtle.html
http://www.carlsams.com/inthewoods/2012/02/burmese-pythons-in-florida-everglades-decimating-wildlife/
http://www.arkive.org/alligator-snapping-turtle/macrochelys-temminckii/
http://www.birderslounge.com/2009/09/i-rescued-a-baby-alligator-snapping-turtle/
http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4523