Alligator Snapping Turtle at Palma Aquarium | Discover This Fascinating Species

Did you know ?

These turtles can remain submerged for 6-8 hours before coming up for air.
They can remain so still underwater that algae will cover their backs making them almost invisible to fish.

Macrochelys temminckii

These turtles use chemosensory signals to locate their prey. Water flowing in and out of the mouth provides chemical cues emitted by nearby potential prey. Using this sensory system, alligator snapping turtles can locate prey such as mud turtles that have buried themselves in the mud at the bottom of the river.

Measures

30 cm.

Diet

Fish, amphibians, birds, crustaceans, insects, small (yellow) mammals, other turtles and carrion.

Alligator Snapping Turtle

Macrochelys temminckii

Did you know ?

Macrochelys temminckii

Measures

Diet

Conservation Status

Extinct

Threatened

Low risk

Origin

USA, Central America, Southeast Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala.