Table of Contents
- 1 What family does the alligator snapping turtle belong to?
- 2 What animals are snapping turtles related to?
- 3 What did the alligator snapping turtle evolve from?
- 4 Are alligator snapping turtles extinct?
- 5 What kind of turtle is an alligator snapping turtle?
- 6 Are there alligator snapping turtles in South Africa?
What family does the alligator snapping turtle belong to?
Chelydridae
The alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) is a species of turtle in the family Chelydridae. The species is native to freshwater habitats in the United States. M….
| Alligator snapping turtle | |
|---|---|
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | Chelydridae |
| Genus: | Macrochelys |
| Species: | M. temminckii |
Snappers fall into their own turtle family, Chelydridae, which includes two genera: Chelydra, encompassing the North American common snapper and two closely related neotropical cousins, and Macrochelys, the mighty alligator snapper.
What did the alligator snapping turtle evolve from?
Current theory proposes turtles evolved with archosaurs (crocodile like animals) over this span of time. The earliest turtle fossils show animals with interlocking plates that eventually evolved into a complete shell. The Alligator Snapping Turtle evolved over the past few million years exclusively in North America.
How Ancient are alligator snapping turtles?
Found almost exclusively in the rivers, canals, and lakes of the southeastern United States, alligator snappers can live to be 50 to 100 years old.
Are alligator snapping turtles related to dinosaurs?
Today’s snapping turtles are remarkably similar to their ancestors that appeared more than 215 million years ago, about 100 million years before the rise of the dinosaurs, and they have proven themselves to be the ultimate survivor; weathering the meteor impact that killed the dinosaurs and thriving into modernity.
Are alligator snapping turtles extinct?
Alligator snapping turtles are declining due to habitat degradation and overharvesting for their meat. They are not an endangered species, but some states have imposed bans on collecting them from the wild.
What kind of turtle is an alligator snapping turtle?
Alligator snapping turtle. The alligator snapping turtle ( Macrochelys temminckii) is a species of turtle in the family Chelydridae, native to freshwater habitats in the United States. M. temminckii is one of the heaviest freshwater turtles in the world. It is often associated with, but not closely related to, the common snapping turtle,…
Are there alligator snapping turtles in South Africa?
There are non-native established invasive populations of the alligator snapping turtle in South Africa.
How many people have alligator snapping turtles killed?
No human deaths have been reported to have been caused by the alligator snapping turtle. The alligator snapping turtle is an opportunistic feeder that is almost entirely carnivorous. It relies on both live food caught by itself and dead organisms which it scavenges.
What does a snapping turtle look like?
The common snapping turtle looks more like a “regular” turtle, with a smooth shell and rounded head. The alligator snapping turtle has a prehistoric appearance, with a spiny shell and rough appearance.