Kingdom  Animalia
Phylum  Chordata
Class  Reptilia
Order  Testudines
Family  Chelydridae
Genus  Macroclemys
Species  Macroclemys temminckii

Alligator Snapping Turtle

Diet

Reproduction

Habitat

Historical Distribution

Economic Value

Status

Literature Cited

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Author: Travis Wayne Farris

Site created by: Rachael McCormick

Site Maintained by: Dr. Mark Wallace

c7wmc@ttacs.ttu.edu

Alligator snapping turtles are both ambush predators and active forgers (Levine 1994, Richards 2002).  They have a worm like protuberance on the tongue which they used to lure fish and other aquatic vertebrates into their jaws (Levine 1994).  They also actively forage for clams, snakes and aquatic vegetation at night (Levine 1994, Richards 2002), and will scavenge when the opportunity arises (Levine 2002).  Alligator snapping turtles become more active in April and their activity level decreases in August.  This increase and decrease in activity was originally thought to be due to temperature changes; however, it is now thought to be due to a change in the length of the photoperiod as water temperature in their habitats remains fairly constant throughout the year (Herrel et al 1996).