The previous taxonomic name Macrochelys temminckii has now been linked only to the turtles in the western part of the turtles' range, around the Mississippi and Mobile rivers. The paper, by Thomas and researchers from four other institutions, finds that alligator snapping turtles are not one species but three genetically and morphologically distinct species that separated from one another millions of years ago. Thomas has had occasion to pull many of these massive turtles from the water over the past few years as part of a study, published in the April 9 issue in Zootaxa, which has important implications for their conservation. You just always have to remember to stay away from those powerful jaws."
"That's not to say that a large alligator snapping turtle wouldn't inflict heavy damage if you offered him a hand, but in most cases they become fatigued and become calm once removed from the water. "It's funny because in my experience the alligator snapping turtle is far more docile than its cousin, the common snapping turtle," says Travis Thomas, a scientist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). They tend to let their prey do the work by sitting passively still and letting fish swim into their wide-open mouths. Add in their unusual ridged carapaces, finger-long claws and sharp, beaklike mouths and you've got an impressive package.īut in truth, alligator snapping turtles aren't all that aggressive.
These massive, prehistoric-looking reptiles can reach more than 66 centimeters in length and weigh more than 100 kilograms.
Alligator snapping turtles look pretty intimidating.