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Range: Southeast United States,
as well as Mississippi river system into the
mid-west United States.
Habitat: Highly Aquatic Natural Diet: Fish, small mammals, aquatic birds Diet at Rain Forest: Fish, rodents Size: Largest of all living fresh water turtles in the United States. Can weigh in excess of 200 pounds RainForest Facts: This important predator is disappearing from the wild due to over hunting by humans. Having very few natural predators the Alligator Snapping turtle can live to the ripe ole' age of 80 years if left undisturbed. When alligator snappers reach the age of about 11 or so, they're ready to mate. Mating takes place in the water in late spring. In early summer, the female leaves the water to dig a nest and lay eggs - up to 52! As is true for many reptiles, the temperature in the nest controls whether
the babies will be male or female. If the temperature is moderate, the
hatchlings will be male. If the temperature is high or low, they will be female.
The little turtles make their appearance when the eggs hatch in late summer or
early fall. Though adult alligator snappers don't have to worry much about animal predators, their eggs and hatchlings make a tasty meal for large fish, raccoons, and birds. All snapping turtles are both scavengers and active hunters to some degree. However, the Alligator Snapping turtle is unique in that it has a small pink worm-like lure in the bottom of its mouth. It lies quietly on the bottom of the dark, slow moving body of water, with jaws wide open, wiggling the lure so as to entice unwary fish to investigate. The alligator snapper is so sedentary on the bottom of swamps and bayou that algae covers its rough, irregular carapace making it almost invisible to fish. Furthermore the lining of the mouth is gray and black. When a fish comes close, the massive jaws close quickly on the prey, netting a meal Status in Wild: Numbers are rapidly declining due to over collection for the soup pot! Alligator snappers are threatened by over harvesting for food in many areas. In the Midwest, the Alligator Snapping Turtle is State Endangered in Indiana and Illinois. The species is also found in Iowa, and is considered imperiled in Missouri
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