File 2: Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)
This episode of the turtle files has us investigating our largest turtly-cool resident of the reptile house, the Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii). The alligator snapping turtle is classified as vulnerable by the ICUN. Its main threats in the wild are predation from humans, removal from the wild for the pet trade, water pollution and habitat alteration.
Currently we are home to two Snapping turtles, lovingly named Dave and Dave’s Mate. Dave and Dave’s Mate used to live together in the snapping turtle enclosure opposite the green iguana (called Devil), however, Dave and his mate decided not to be mates anymore so Dave’s Mate now lives with our two spectacled caimans.
FUN FACT!
Alligator snapping turtles get their name from their shell pattern! They have three ridged lines down the backs of their shell which makes it look like the back of an alligator!
Where Do We Come From and Where Do We Go?
Alligator snapping turtles are native to North America, their primary habitat ranges from Northern Florida to Eastern Texas, however, they can be found in other states! These turtles are also found in South Africa as an invasive species.
Unlike other species of turtles, the alligator snapping turtle spends most of its life in bodies of water often sitting completely still on the bottom of riverbeds, so still in fact that they are often covered in algae that has grown onto their heads and shells. Not only this but they can hold their breath for up to 50 minutes! Usually, the only time you will see these magnificent beasts venture onto land is breeding time where they lay eggs in underground nests. Each clutch can comprise of 25-30 eggs which can take 100-140 days to hatch!
How Big Are We?
Alligator snapping turtles are one of the largest species of freshwater turtle in the world. Males are typically bigger than females averaging between 70 to 90 kg and a shell length of 80-100cm. This is heavier than the average capybara! However, they can get even bigger than this, a turtle at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago had a turtle weighing 113kg!
Diet
You may be wondering how we feed such a large turtle. Well, here at the zoo our snappers are fed medium rats weekly and get the odd chick or fish for enrichment. It may surprise you to know that Dave is rather partial to a strawberry and will often follow them in his enclosure when we chuck them in for him or for the fish.
In the wild, alligator snapping turtles are opportunistic feeders and would feast upon anything that wondered too close to its mouth! But Beth how do they lure their prey? Well let me tell you it may be the coolest thing you read today! Alligator snapping turtles use a form of aggressive mimicry which is called lingual luring. What this means is that the turtles have a wormlike appendage attached to their tongs which the turtle can move around, like a wriggling worm. What happens next then is the fish or other prey item then thinks this worm is a tasty meal swims to get the worm, landing itself inside the snapping turtles mouth becoming its next tasty meal.
DID YOU KNOW?
Most species of aquatic turtles, like our snapping turtle cannot easily swallow their food on land, they use the water they live in to help wash it down their throat.
Training
Would it surprise you to know that here at Wingham we have started to train our snapping turtles? Currently we are target training Dave and Dave’s Mate, however, Dave is far better at his training than his mate. But why do we train them? This is so that we can get closer to the turtle to check him over without having to stress him out and catch him up. Along with this, if we ever needed to give them medication, we could easily inject it into his food target him over and make sure that he eats the medication he needs. Below is a video of Trin, one of the members of our reptile team, training Dave! Dave has gotten pretty good at his training; he follows the target stick and happily takes his reward. As a reward, Dave receives a rat that is part of his diet. If Dave doesn’t participate in the training, he still receives his rat as part of his daily meal later in the day – so he never misses out.
By Beth, Deputy Head of Reptiles and Invertebrates.
