The true snapping turtle (Alligator snapping turtle), also known as snapping turtle, snapping turtle, snapping turtle, snapping turtle, is only native to the Mississippi River basin in North America. It is one of the largest freshwater turtles in the world. It maintains the characteristics of the original turtle, and the mouth, carapace scutellum, and red tongue are very peculiar. The upper and lower jaws at the front of the mouth are hook-shaped, like an eagle's beak, so sharp that they can easily bite off a person's fingers. Currently on the verge of extinction. The World Wildlife Federation report shows: in the endangered species ranking of the world's rarest creatures. The North American snapping turtle has already become one of the important members of the Red Book List of Endangered Wildlife Conservation in the world, with strong survivability and adaptability.

morphological characteristics

The true snapping turtle is large, with a carapace of about 31 inches long , weighing up to 200 pounds. The scutellum of the carapace is brown in color. The 13 scutellum is like 13 hills rolling up and down, arranged in three vertical and horizontal rows. There are many jagged protrusions on the edge of the carapace, and the eyes are on both sides of the mouth, small and powerful. , there are many fleshy protrusions on the head and neck. It has a bright red, bifurcated worm-like fleshy protrusion on its tongue, which is attached to the tongue by a circular muscle in the middle. Both ends can freely retract and move. Its tail is thin and long and hard like a steel whip. Unlike other turtles, its head and feet cannot be retracted into the shell.

Body size

The giant snapping turtle is huge, the adult tortoise is 0.4-0.7 meters long and weighs 45-75 kilograms. The largest can reach 200 kilograms. Body length is 0.75-0.9 meters, males are larger than females.