Welcome to my website about my Alligator Snapping Turtle
My animal, the alligator snapping turtle, is a very unique animal. It has beem known to live up to 70 years in capitivity, even though its lifespan in the wild is unknown. The alligator snapping turtle mates in during the spring. My animal has many different characteristics to it between structual , behavioral, and physiological adaptations. The picture above shows that the Alligator Snapping Turtle can live on land and in water at the same time. You will learn more about its enviroment as you continue reading.
Structural Adaptations
Some of the structural adaptations that my animal has are its large heavy head and long thick shell with three dorsal ridges. You can tell a regular snapping turtle from an Alligator Snapping Turtle by the three rows of spikes and raised plates on the carapace.
Behavioral Adaptations
Some of the behavioral adaptations that I found out about my anaimal are that their shells often grow alge on their back to help it blend in with their enviroment. Another behavioral adaptation is that during the day time they sit and wait for their food to approach them, but at night they go out and hunt for their food instead of waiting for it to come to them.
Physiological Adaptations
The only physiological adaptation that I found was that it has a vermiform appendage on the tip of its tounge that helps lure its prey in. The appendage on the tounge is full of a chemicals that the other animals are attracted to it.
This is what the appendage looks like to us and to the prey that are attracted to it.
Scientific Name
The scientific name for the Alligator Snapping Turtle is Macrohelys, M.temminckic
Habbitat
My animal lives in many states in then the middle and southeastern parts of the United States in rivers, canals, and lakes.
The areas that are covered in blue are the areas that the Alligator Snapping Turtles live in.
Eating Habits
Alligator Snapping Turtles eat fish and small animals. They also eat carcases they have scavenged. Alligator Snapping Turtles are mainly carnivors .
This is one of the small mammals that the Alligator Snapping Turtle eats. The animal in the picture is called a Muskrat.
Threats to my Animal
A threat to my animal is the over-harvesting for their meats. Another threat that they have are habitat destruction and alterations, water pollution, and pesticide accumulation.
Five Interesting Facts about the Alligator Snapping Turtle
1. It uses chemicals on the tip of its tounge to catch its prey.
2.They can stay submerged for 40 to 50 minutes.
3.It is often referred to as "the dinosaur of the turtle world."
4.It has been known they live up to 70 years in capitivity.
5.It uses its hard head and long thick shell to attack and protect itself from attack.
2.They can stay submerged for 40 to 50 minutes.
3.It is often referred to as "the dinosaur of the turtle world."
4.It has been known they live up to 70 years in capitivity.
5.It uses its hard head and long thick shell to attack and protect itself from attack.
I hoped you enjoyed all of the information about the Alligator Snapping Turtle. Thank you.