Home » Home » FWC: Alligator Snapping Turtle Largest Freshwater Turtle In North America

FWC: Alligator Snapping Turtle Largest Freshwater Turtle In North America

By  //  January 17, 2016

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Did you know the inside of an alligator snapping turtle’s mouth is camouflaged, and it has a worm-shaped appendage on the tip of its tongue. (FWC image)

FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute – Did you know the inside of an alligator snapping turtle’s mouth is camouflaged, and it has a worm-shaped appendage on the tip of its tongue.

It feeds by staying completely still in the water with its mouth open, wiggling the appendage around to lure prey into its mouth.

Once the prey takes the bait, the alligator snapping turtle shuts its mouth and traps the prey for a quick meal! Learn more about the “dinosaur of the turtle world”

The alligator snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in North America.

Male alligator snapping turtles can reach lengths of 29 inches and 249 pounds, while females can reach lengths of 22 inches and 62 pounds.

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The inner mouth lining is gray/brown with black splotches, which is different from most turtles; others have a pink lining.

This species also has a tremendously long tail; large, triangle-shaped head; curved beak; and a rough brown shell with three spines that run vertically up the shell

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