Alligator Snapping Turtle
Macrochelys temminckii
Adults may exceed 2 feet in length and reach up to 250 pounds in weight. Distinctively jagged and pronounced ridges/keels running down dorsal surface of carapace. Large h…
How to identify
Adults may exceed 2 feet in length and reach up to 250 pounds in weight. Distinctively jagged and pronounced ridges/keels running down dorsal surface of carapace. Large head with strong jaws and hooked beak. Skin coloration ranges from grey to brown, lighter on underside. Tail nearly as long as the carapace. Distinguished from common snapping turtles by larger head and more jagged carapace.
Range
Southeastern United States. Range extends north to Illinois, south to the Gulf of Mexico, east into Georgia and West into Kansas. Introduced to the island of Puerto Rico (non-native).
Habitat
Aquatic. Found in still portions of deep rivers, occasionally found in lakes, swamps, and bayous.
Similar species
Name and etymology
Genus
Macrochelys
Greek for large (macro) turtle (chelys).
Origin
Sources
- Gray, 1855. Cat. Shield Rept. Brit. Mus., p. __ ?
Macrochelys. Gray, 1855 - Cat. Shield Rept. Brit. Mus., p. __ ?
Species epithet
temminckii
Honoring Coenraad J. Temminck.
Origin
Honors
Sources
- (Harlan, 1835). Medical and Physical Researches, p. 158, footnote
Macrochelys temminckii. (Harlan, 1835) - Medical and Physical Researches, p. 158, footnote
Explore more names in the etymology index.
At a glance
Size
79 to 101 cm
Range
Southeastern United States. Range extends north to Illinois, south to the Gulf of Mexico, east into Georgia and West into Kan…
Habitat
Aquatic. Found in still portions of deep rivers, occasionally found in lakes, swamps, and bayous.
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap