Species Description of the Alligator Snapping Turtle
Distribution
![Picture](/uploads/2/8/1/0/28101479/197863_orig.jpg)
The alligator snapping turtle is located in the southeastern part of the united States. They usually live in deep rivers, canals, lakes, and swamps. In the past it hasn't moved much and stays in areas with deep waters though no seas or oceans. Males usually never leave the comforts of its home, but females leave to lay their eggs. They stay underwater so mud and other things get attached to the shells making it invisible to its prey.
Physical Traits and Matting Habits
The alligator snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in North America. They have large heads, strong hook beaks, and long tails. Pre-historic look to it and said to be the “dinosaur of the turtle world.” It has a ridged shell and large claws. For their seasonal and migration behavior they stay in the same area though males are known to bask. There is little to none parental care. It’s unlikely that a female will lay more than once a year and some do it alternate years. The turtles mate early spring in Florida and late spring in Mississippi valley . The gender of the turtle is determined by temperature. The alligator snapping turtle has a worm like lure in their mouth this makes its prey come to it.
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That fleshy thing on the bottom on their jaw is the lure they use to get their prey.
Threats and Prey
The turtle likes to eat fish, frogs, snakes, snails, crayfish, worms, clams, plants, and other turtles even. Since they can protect themselves with their jaw, shell, claws, and other things on their body there is no natural threat to it. Humans are the most dangerous thing to it. Humans have destroyed its home and making the turtle die as well. By doing so the turtle is put on the threatened species list. Algae’s grow on the shells. The algae gets a home and the turtle uses it as camouflage or is left unharmed.
Hierarchy of Classifcation
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Chelydridae
Genus: Macroelys
Species: Macrochelys temminckii
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Chelydridae
Genus: Macroelys
Species: Macrochelys temminckii
Sources
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/12589/0
http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?Species ID=1227
http://a-z-animals.com/blog/under-threat-the-alligator-snapping-turtle/
http://eol.org/pages/791511/details
http://srelherp.uga.edu/turtles/mactem.htm
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Alligatorsnappingturtle.cfm
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/alligator-snapping-turtle/
http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?Species ID=1227
http://a-z-animals.com/blog/under-threat-the-alligator-snapping-turtle/
http://eol.org/pages/791511/details
http://srelherp.uga.edu/turtles/mactem.htm
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Alligatorsnappingturtle.cfm
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/alligator-snapping-turtle/