MFS - Strange But True - Creatures / Animals 11

Updated on MFS - Strange But True - Creatures / Animals 11 .

The Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) is one of the largest freshwater turtles in the world. It is a larger and less aggressive relative of the Common Snapping Turtle. The epithet temminckii is in honor of Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck.

The largest freshwater turtle in North America, the alligator snapper keeps to primarily southern U.S. waters, while the smaller, more aggressive common snapper inhabits lakes and streams from South America to Canada. These turtles can remain submerged for three hours. Typically only nesting females will venture onto open land.
Surprisingly, due to the pet trade and other factors the species has found its way to Asia and Europe with a breeding/research center found in Japan.Read more about this animal on MFS,with videoclip. Picture : The Common and Alligator snapping turtle.