Photos: 205 lb. Alligator Snapping Turtle; 80 lb. Common Snapper

[bronxzoofrank]

Hi All,
I had the good fortune of working with these 2 massive turtles at the Bronx Zoo; thought you might enjoy the photos.
Read article here The Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina ? Miscellaneous Facts | That Reptile Blog That Reptile Blog (http://bit.ly/XZt60c)
Please also check out my posts on Twitter http://bitly.com/JP27Nj.

Best, Frank

My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with That Pet Place welcomes Zoologist/Herpetologist Frank Indiviglio to That Reptile Blog | That Reptile Blog That Reptile Blog (http://bitly.com/LC8Lbp)

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[Squirtle]

Is that the same Alligator Snapping Turtle in the Reptile House zoo exhibit? If so, I've seen him many times. He rarely moves lol.. Must be a very boring life for him.

[bronxzoofrank]

Is that the same Alligator Snapping Turtle in the Reptile House zoo exhibit? If so, I've seen him many times. He rarely moves lol.. Must be a very boring life for him.


Yes, it is. They are the ultimate sit-and wait predators, and move move very little unless necessary. They have even evolved the ability to effectively absorb oxygen front the water via the skin; studies of that animal revealed that he averaged 45 minutes below water before rising to breathe, and routinely remained submerged for 1 hour, and in several cases up to 2 hours, 5 minutes! best, Frank

[Zoo Nanny]

Ok so now after seeing that alligator snapper I will never step foot in fresh water in the south! He's huge. When I was working in Providence there was an area in the zoo that was a nature trail through swamp with educational signage along the way, no exhibits. About mid way through there was a small bridge going over an open water area about 12 feet in diameter. Every day at about noon if you went down there there was a very large snapper in the center just sitting watching. His carapace looked to be close to 2 feet wide. I'm sure the water magnified the actual size, but he was certainly the largest I had ever seen. We ended up having to post a sign down there to leave the turtle alone that he was wild and bites. We actually saw some people trying to pet his shell!

[bronxzoofrank]

Ok so now after seeing that alligator snapper I will never step foot in fresh water in the south! He's huge. When I was working in Providence there was an area in the zoo that was a nature trail through swamp with educational signage along the way, no exhibits. About mid way through there was a small bridge going over an open water area about 12 feet in diameter. Every day at about noon if you went down there there was a very large snapper in the center just sitting watching. His carapace looked to be close to 2 feet wide. I'm sure the water magnified the actual size, but he was certainly the largest I had ever seen. We ended up having to post a sign down there to leave the turtle alone that he was wild and bites. We actually saw some people trying to pet his shell!

They do strike at movement, and Pritchard's book has a photo of someone who lost 2 fingers to a much smaller specimen, but are in general much more retiring than common snappers, neck not as long or flexible, and the strikes I've seen have been noticeably slower. But the classic image of a southern kid dangling bare feet in the water while fishing always made me nervous! Take care, frank

[dinosaurdammit]

Ok so now after seeing that alligator snapper I will never step foot in fresh water in the south! He's huge. When I was working in Providence there was an area in the zoo that was a nature trail through swamp with educational signage along the way, no exhibits. About mid way through there was a small bridge going over an open water area about 12 feet in diameter. Every day at about noon if you went down there there was a very large snapper in the center just sitting watching. His carapace looked to be close to 2 feet wide. I'm sure the water magnified the actual size, but he was certainly the largest I had ever seen. We ended up having to post a sign down there to leave the turtle alone that he was wild and bites. We actually saw some people trying to pet his shell!

we have gar too- bigguns :3

we had an old snapper that would kill catfish out back in the pond but rather than kill him we just fed him part of our catch, that sucker was easily 200+ pounds. He was so old he had musket balls from the civil war stuck into his shell. His name? Booger. Because as old as he was thats what he looked like, a big old angry booger.

[Zoo Nanny]

we have gar too- bigguns :3

we had an old snapper that would kill catfish out back in the pond but rather than kill him we just fed him part of our catch, that sucker was easily 200+ pounds. He was so old he had musket balls from the civil war stuck into his shell. His name? Booger. Because as old as he was thats what he looked like, a big old angry booger.

I had to look up Gar and now it's official I will never step foot in fresh water again! That's not true my curiosity always gets the best of me, but I will certainly be extra careful!

[dinosaurdammit]

I had to look up Gar and now it's official I will never step foot in fresh water again! That's not true my curiosity always gets the best of me, but I will certainly be extra careful!

we have seen 15 foot gar in smith lake in alabama, they come to the surface and gulp air, they look like dolphins, no joke

http://www.itsnature.org/Sea/images/article-images/Alligator_Gar2.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LbccUVbSRd8/S7H_4l4gTZI/AAAAAAAAGZI/UUYLf4xubrE/s1600/Texas+May+2006+gar.jpg

they actually are inquisitive and smart for fish and they only brush against you on accident. Attacks are stupid rare and are usually done to people who grab them or noodle them.

[KORBIN5895]

I caught a snapper once that the shell was 32" front to back and I won't lie to you, he tasted some good.

[bronxzoofrank]

River Monsters did an interesting episode on alligator gars awhile back; some old footage of large animals, conservation issues, etc. Best, Frank