But let’s put it this way… the largest confirmed specimen of an alligator snapping turtle weighed in at 236 pounds, so this means the Facebook photo depicts a snapper that is less than half the size!
What is the largest alligator snapping turtle on record?
But for wildlife conservationists, it means a whole new level of excitement. Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has captured an enormous turtle that happens to be the largest ever for its species. The group captured a Suwannee alligator snapping that weighs more than 100 pounds.
How big do alligator snapping turtles get?
The alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) is one of the largest freshwater turtles in the world, with adults sometimes exceeding two feet in shell length. Maximum weight can reach nearly 250 pounds.
What is the world’s largest snapping turtle?
M. temminckii is one of the heaviest freshwater turtles in the world. It is the largest freshwater species of turtle in North America.
…
| Alligator snapping turtle | |
|---|---|
| Family: | Chelydridae |
| Genus: | Macrochelys |
| Species: | M. temminckii |
| Binomial name | |
Can an alligator snapping turtle kill you?
Unlike some of their other reptilian cousins such as snakes and crocodiles, most turtles are peaceful vegetarians that pose no threat to humans. Note that I said most turtles. Not all. There is one turtle, the Alligator Snapping Turtle, that can most definitely cause some harm to humans.
How big is a 100 year old snapping turtle?
Size and Weight
Found almost exclusively in the rivers, canals, and lakes of the southeastern United States, alligator snappers can live to be 50 to 100 years old. Males average 26 inches in shell length and weigh about 175 pounds, although they have been known to exceed 220 pounds.
What eats the alligator snapping turtle?
Herons, egrets and other birds are also a threat, as are a range of mammalian carnivores: mink, river otters, raccoons, foxes, bobcats and others. Young common snappers are also vulnerable to other snapping turtles, including alligator snappers in the American Southeast.
Can you keep an alligator snapping turtle as a pet?
These turtles are locally endangered in some states and are absolutely banned in others, such as California, Hawaii and Oregon. Some states, including Florida, require people to buy a permit to own an alligator snapper.
Can an alligator snapping turtle bite a finger off?
These giant turtles are about the only U.S. reptile besides alligators capable of biting off a human body part. … Turtles lack teeth, but the cutting edge of the mouth of a 100-pound turtle is a formidable biting tool. An alligator snapper can bite a finger off, and I know of three documented cases.
What happens if a snapping turtle bites you?
Since turtles are known to carry salmonella, any bite that breaks the skin needs to be treated by a medical professional. Antibiotics may be needed, as well as thorough cleaning of the wound. If the skin is not broken, wash the bitten area with warm water and plenty of soap.
What is the biggest turtle that ever lived?
Archelon is an extinct marine turtle from the Late Cretaceous, and is the largest turtle ever to have been documented, with the biggest specimen measuring 460 cm (15 ft) from head to tail, 400 cm (13 ft) from flipper to flipper, and 2,200 kg (4,900 lb) in weight.
How old is a 12 inch snapping turtle?
Most snapping turtles are sexually mature by 8 to 10 years of age, by which time they have reached at least 12 inches in shell length.
How big can a snapping turtle grow?
Description: The common snapping turtle is a large turtle, ranging in size from 8 to 14 in (20-36 cm) with a record length of 19.3 in (49 cm). Their average weights range from 10 to 35 lbs (4.5 – 16 kg), with a record of 75 lbs (34 kg).
Which animal can kill a tortoise?
Opossums, weasels, skunks and ferrets will all kill turtles if given the opportunity. In some instances, these animals bite at and chew any part that the turtle can not retract deeply enough into its shell.
How old is the oldest alligator snapping turtle?
We are sad to report that our oldest animal has died. Thunder, the alligator snapping turtle, was an estimated 150 years old and was an original animal on exhibit at the aquarium when we opened in 1999.
Is it OK to pick up a snapping turtle by the tail?
Snapping turtles have powerful jaws and long necks. … Do not place your hands near the front half of the turtle. Do not pick the turtle up by the tail, as you can injure the bones of the tail and back.