Alligator Snapping Turtles Attract Prey Using a Worm-like Tongue Appendage

What connection exists between North America's largest freshwater turtle and a common cleaning tool?

The explanation lies in a popular piece of folklore. It's said that the alligator snapping turtle, a massive reptile that can weigh up to 176 pounds (80 kilograms), has the jaw strength to snap a wooden broom handle in two with one bite.

In his 1989 book "The Alligator Snapping Turtle: Biology and Conservation," zoologist Peter Charles Howard Pritchard put this claim to the test. After provoking a 165-pound (75-kilogram) turtle with a new broomstick, the creature clamped down on the wood. While the initial bite didn't break the broomstick, Pritchard's attempt to pull it free resulted in the handle being split in two by the turtle's powerful jaws.

It seems there's a kernel of truth in those age-old tales. Alligator snapping turtles command respect; mishandling them could result in losing a finger. That said, these reptiles typically avoid aggression toward humans, choosing to stay distant when people venture into their territory.

Alligator Snapping vs. Common Snapping Turtle

For those living north of the Rio Grande and east of the Rocky Mountains, encounters with the alligator snapper's smaller relative, the common snapping turtle, are not uncommon.

By any measure, the common snapping turtle is an impressive reptile. Weighing between 9 and 35 pounds (4 to 16 kilograms), it dwarfs most other turtles like sliders and painted turtles in its habitat. Its shell alone can exceed 18 inches (46 centimeters) in length.

However, alligator snapping turtles can far exceed these measurements, particularly the males.

The alligator snapping turtle exhibits sexual dimorphism, where males and females differ significantly in size and appearance beyond their reproductive organs. Females typically have a shell length of around 18 inches (46 centimeters), while the largest males can reach nearly double that size, boasting shells up to 31.5 inches (80 centimeters).

These giants rank among the largest freshwater turtles in existence today. In North America, their size remains unmatched.

Both common and alligator snapping turtles have a distinctly ancient appearance. They feature unusually long tails covered in comb-like rows of tubercles. Additionally, the common snapping turtle has an exceptionally long and flexible neck, whereas the alligator snapping turtle's neck is proportionately shorter, limiting its range of motion.

The most noticeable distinction between the two lies in their shell structure. The alligator snapping turtle's upper shell displays three prominent ridges, a feature absent in common snapping turtles.

Splitting the Species

Alligator snapping turtles, much like real alligators, are native to southern regions. They are primarily found in waterways that flow into the Gulf of Mexico.

There has been debate about their geographic range. Known scientifically as Macrochelys temminckii, the alligator snapping turtle was once thought to be the sole species in the Macrochelys genus. Field guides typically list their habitats as including Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, the Florida panhandle, southern Georgia, western Tennessee, and parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Kansas.

However, the distribution map has recently been revised. A 2014 study published in Zootaxa revealed that there are actually three distinct species. The study's authors argue that turtles in the western, central, and eastern regions of their range are genetically unique.

If the findings hold true, the turtle populations near the Suwanee and Apalachicola rivers constitute two newly identified species, named Macrochelys suwanniensis and Macrochelys apalachicolae.

Conservationists are wary of this proposed division. Instead of managing one widespread species, we may now have three geographically restricted ones, which could significantly hinder conservation efforts.

Alligator Snapping Turtle Gone Fishing

Unlike many semiaquatic turtles, these reptiles rarely venture onto land. While females do lay their eggs on dry ground, that's the extent of their terrestrial activity. Alligator snapping turtles prefer to bask underwater, avoiding the sunlit logs and rocks favored by other species.

These turtles thrive in deep rivers but are equally comfortable in swamps, ponds, lakes, bayous, and canals. They are nocturnal hunters, feeding on a varied diet that includes carrion, aquatic plants, fruits, seeds, and live prey such as frogs, snakes, snails, salamanders, leeches, crustaceans, and even other turtles.

Their diet doesn't end there. Alligator snapping turtles have also been observed consuming wood ducks, muskrats, beavers, and young crocodilians. Remarkable, isn't it?

Fish, however, form the foundation of their diet. Rather than pursuing their prey, these turtles employ a unique hunting strategy, using lures to attract fish.

The alligator snapping turtle's tongue features a pink, worm-like appendage filled with blood. By wriggling this lure while remaining motionless, the turtle entices fish into its open mouth. Capable of holding its breath for up to 50 minutes, it patiently waits for unsuspecting prey to swim within reach.

Young Macrochelys face numerous predators, including raccoons and river otters. However, adult turtles primarily need to worry about humans. If they avoid threats, these reptiles can live for decades; one captive individual reached at least 70 years, four months, and 26 days old.