Did you know that there are turtles that look like alligators?
A trip to Florida or Texas in North America may acquaint you with many places of interest. But the freshwaters of these places can offer you a unique experience as you may end up meeting an alligator snapping turtle there. They are the world’s heaviest freshwater turtles and the largest in North America. With their weight ranging between 8.4kg to 80 kg, and a shell measuring between 8.4 cm to 81 cm, alligator snapping turtles look quite different from other snapping turtles. Wondering how they got this fancy name? Let’s break it down for you. Belonging to the snapping turtle species, alligator snapping turtles are called so because of their rough and rugged skin resembling an alligator. Well, the snapping turtles derive their names from their strange biting method which resembles snapping. Let’s find out more fascinating facts about these unique turtles.
They resemble dinosaurs
The spiky shells and primitive-looking features of alligator snapping turtles make them appear like dinosaurs. Their shells contain three pointed ridges that stretch from head to tail. Unlike all other snapping turtle species, alligator snapping turtles have eyes on the sides of its head. They are either grey, brown, black, or olive-green in colour and are often covered with algae. They have yellow stripes that radiate around their eyes and help them to camouflage. Their eyes are also enclosed by a star-shaped pattern of fleshy, fibrous ‘eyelashes’.
They have a bite force of 1000 pounds
According to several reports, alligator snapping turtles don’t typically attack humans. However, their powerful jaws can break off bones with a bite force of 1,000 pounds! And you definitely do not want to test this force. Therefore, never approach them in the wild.
The gender of the babies has a connect between the nest temperature
Adults mate in the spring, and two months later, females lay eggs that hatch after 100 to 140 days. Here is an interesting fact for you: The temperature of the nest during maturation determines the gender of the babies. Cooler temperatures mean the child would be male, whereas females develop in warmer temperatures. Who knew this was possible? The appearance of the newly born turtle is no different from that of an adult. At 11–13 years of age, a turtle reaches reproductive maturity. In the wild, these turtles can live for 11–45 years but can live longer up to 70 years in captivity.
They have a unique hunting strategy
Alligator snapping turtles, with their specially developed tongue, grab prey with minimum effort. A lure-like extension of the tongue captures creatures that swim directly into the turtle’s mouth. What’s more interesting is how it lures the prey! This turtle will lie in the river and open its jaws to show what appears to be a tasty bright red wriggling worm. This red worm is actually the turtle’s tongue, which will flick back and forth to draw innocent prey. And thus, a fish will swim right into the jaws of the hungry animal if the turtle’s tongue tricks it! Alligator snapping turtles can also search for prey by tasting chemicals that have been released into the water by species. In this manner, they can recognise their prey while hidden by the sand!