Meet the Alligator Snapping Turtle – the largest freshwater turtle in North America and one of the stars of Turtles: Journey of Survival. The Alligator Snapping turtle is found primarily in waters of the southeastern United States and can be found from Eastern Texas to the Florida Panhandle, and throughout the mid-east United States.
This (quirky-looking) species is characterized by a large, heavy head, and a long, thick shell with three dorsal ridges of large scales, giving it a rather primitive, dinosaur-like appearance. Known as opportunistic feeders, Alligator Snappers are almost entirely carnivorous – relying on both live food which they caught as well as any dead organisms which they scavenge.
In fact, they basically eat anything they catch. Alligator Snapping turtles actively forage for food at night, but are sit and wait predators during the day.
And Perhaps one of the coolest tidbits about the Alligator Snapper is how it eats: they have a worm-shaped, fleshy appendage on the tip of its tongue that it uses to lure in prey items!
Visitors can meet our Alligator Snapping Turtle in KidZone (Zone C) now through March 24 during Turtles: Journey of Survival.
