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| NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species |
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Common Name: Alligator Snapping Turtle
Synonyms and Other Names: Macroclemys temminckii
Taxonomy: available through 
Identification: The alligator snapping turtle is characterized by a very large head and three rows of spiked scutes (enlarged scales or laminae). The rows of spiked scutes usually form three distinct complete or incomplete keeled ridges on the brown carapace (upper shell), which distinguish M. temminckii from the snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) (Behler and King, 1979; Pritchard, 1989; Conant and Collins, 1998). Some of the marginal scutes on the carapace occur in a double row rather than the single row seen in Chelydra (Powell et al., 1998). A strongly hooked beak is present on most, but not all specimens (Pritchard, 1989; Ernst et al., 1994; Conant and Collins, 1998). The tongue has a unique worm-like appendage ("fishing lure") (Obst, 1986; Ernst and Barbour, 1989; Conant and Collins, 1998; Zug et al., 2001). The plastron (lower shell) is relatively small (Pritchard, 1989; Conant and Collins, 1998). Macrochelys temminckii is the largest freshwater turtle in the U.S. reaching a record carapace length of 800 mm (31.5 in), and weight of 113.9 kg (251 lbs) (Pritchard, 1989; Conant and Collins, 1998). The alligator snapping turtle has been illustrated by numerous authorities (Pope, 1939; Carr, 1952; Ernst and Barbour, 1972, 1989; Mount, 1975; Behler and King, 1979; Pritchard, 1979,1989, 1992; Caldwell and Collins, 1981; Smith and Brodie, 1982; Obst, 1986,1998; Alderton, 1988; [Sievert] and Sievert, [1988]; Dundee and Rossman, 1989; Ashton and Ashton, 1991; Carmichael and Williams, 1991; Ernst et al., 1994; Lamar, 1997; Conant and Collins, 1998; Powell et al., 1998; Bartlett and Bartlett, 1999a, b; Behler, 1999; Phillips et al., 1999; Johnson, 2000; Pough et al., 2001; Zug et al., 2001).
Size: 800 mm, record carapace length
Native Range:
The indigenous range of M. temminckii encompasses eastern
Texas, eastern Oklahoma, extreme southeastern Kansas and adjacent
southwestern Missouri, the Mississippi River Valley of eastern Missouri
up the valley northward through western Illinois, southern Indiana, and
southeastern Iowa, western Kentucky and Tennessee (including disjunct
populations in central Indiana and Tennessee), and other Gulf
Coast drainages in Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi,
southwestern Georgia, and northern Florida as far south as the Santa Fe
and Suwanee Rivers (Martof, 1956; Smith, 1961; Webb, 1970; Mount, 1975;
Stevenson, 1976; Caldwell and Collins, 1981; Lohoefener and Altig,
1983; Garrett and Barker, 1987; Moler, 1988; [Sievert] and Sievert,
[1988]; Carpenter and Krupa, 1989; Dundee and Rossman, 1989; Pritchard,
1989, 1992; Ashton and Ashton, 1991; Carmichael and Williams, 1991;
Iverson, 1992; Lovich, 1993; Ernst et al., 1994; Conant and Collins,
1998; Heck, 1998; Bartlett and Bartlett, 1999a, b; Phillips et al.,
1999; Dixon, 2000; Johnson, 2000; King, 2000). None of the river drainages inhabited by M. temminckii are Atlantic (Pritchard, 1989).
Nonindigenous Occurrences: M. temminckii was captured from the Reflecting Pool, in the Mall area of Washington, D.C., in August 1994 (Katz, 1994).
In the St. Joseph River, Berrien County, Michigan, M. Brazo (personal communication 1999) found an alligator snapping turtle in 1999.
In Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, a M. temminckii was observed at Papago Park Ponds in 1987 and 1991 (M. Demlong, personal communication 1997).
A M. temminckii was collected near Elk Grove, Sacramento County, California (Bury and Luckenbach, 1976).
Means of Introduction: Unknown; but in all cases pet releases should be suspected.
Status: Inexplicably, the alligator snapping turtle found in Washington, D.C., was scheduled to be "relocated" to Roosevelt Island or in waters along the George Washington Parkway, D.C., according to Park Ranger E. Broadbent (in Katz, 1994); not established, but still well away from its indigenous range.
Macrochelys temminckii collected from Michigan and California, and observed in Arizona are probably individual releases or escapees, and not known to represent breeding populations.
Impact of Introduction: None. However, any nonindigenous breeding population of these large, carnivores could potentially impact the indigenous aquatic fauna.
Remarks: The taxonomy of M. temmincki has been reviewed by King and Burke (1989), Pritchard (1989), Lovich (1993), and Iverson et al. (2000). Although Pritchard (1989) has argued in favor of using the name Macroclemys temmincki, Iverson et al. (2000) follow the more current research of Webb (1995) and use the name Macrochelys temminckii based upon priority.
The best review of M. temminckii biology and natural history is by Pritchard (1989). Alligator snapping turtles are massive, highly aquatic turtles that inhabit deep waters, primarily deep rivers with steep banks; but lakes and swamps are also inhabited (Pritchard, 1989, 1992). Macrochelys temminckii crawls, rather than swims, along the bottoms of waterways and rarely basks out of water (Pritchard, 1989; Conant and Collins, 1998). The prehensile tails of juveniles may prevent them from being washed downstream in strong river currents (Pritchard, 1989). For the most part, M. temminckii is a carnivore that feeds primarily on fish, smaller turtles (especially kinosternids), crayfish and mollusks (mussels and snails), but occasionally eats baby alligators, small mammals, ducks, amphibians, carrion, fruit and acorns (Dundee and Rossman, 1989; Ernst and Barbour, 1989; Pritchard, 1989; Ernst et al., 1994; Conant and Collins, 1998). Although they actively forage for food along the bottom, they hunt for fish by lying still in ambush, with open mouth while wriggling the lure appendage on the tongue (Obst, 1986, 1998; Pritchard, 1989, 1992; Zug et al., 2001). Fish are trapped in their mouths in this fashion more commonly by smaller, younger turtles than by larger adults that spend more time actively foraging (Pritchard, 1989). Females typically lay their eggs in loose, moist soil in or near river banks (Pritchard, 1989).
There are many myths about alligator snapping turtles attacking, even killing, humans; none of which are true (Pritchard, 1989). However, their strong jaws and sharp beaks make them potentially dangerous if carelessly handled. Pritchard (1989) verified that persons have had their fingers severed away cleanly; additionally, he demonstrated that the jaws of M. temminckii are formidable enough to break completely through the handles of the "flimsier" variety of brooms sold in modern supermarkets.
Alligator snapping turtles are exploited for their meat in parts of the rural South, and to a lesser extent by the pet trade (Dundee and Rossman, 1989; Pritchard, 1989; Sloan and Lovich, 1995); they are becoming scarce in parts of their indigenous range (Pritchard, 1989, 1992; Dixon, 2000). Macrochelys temminckii does not receive federal protection but does receive some kind of legal protection in various states (Pritchard, 1992; Levell, 1997).
The identity of M. temminckii found out of their indigenous range should be carefully verified as many untrained people mistake C. serpentina, the common snapping turtle, for this species (personal observation). The nonindigenous M. temminckii in Washington, D.C. (see above), which was scheduled for relocation in another part of D.C. by park rangers, is particularly suspicious.
References
Alderton, D. 1988. Turtles & Tortoises of the World. Facts on File, Inc., New York. 191 pp.
Ashton, R. E., Jr., and P. S. Ashton. 1991. Handbook of Reptiles and Amphibians of Florida. Part Two. Lizards, Turtles & Crocodilians. Revised Second Edition. Windward Publishing, Inc., Miami. 191 pp.
Bartlett, R. D., and P. P. Bartlett. 1999a. A Field Guide to Florida Reptiles and Amphibians. Gulf Publishing Company, Houston. 280 pp.
Bartlett, R. D., and P. D. Bartlett. 1999b. A Field Guide to Texas Reptiles and Amphibians. Gulf Publishing Company, Houston. 331 pp.
Behler, J. L. 1999. National Audubon Society First Field Guide. Reptiles. Scholastic, Inc., New York. 160 pp.
Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 743 pp.
Brazo, M. 1999. Personal communication—Resident, Michigan.
Bury, R. B., and R. A. Luckenbach. 1976. Introduced amphibians and reptiles in California. Biological Conservation 1976(10):1-14.
Caldwell, J. P., and J. T. Collins. 1981. Turtles in Kansas. AMS Publishing, Lawrence, Kansas. 67 pp.
Carmichael, P., and W. Williams. 1991. Florida's Fabulous Reptiles and Amphibians. World Publications, Tampa. 120 pp.
Carpenter, C. C., and J. J. Krupa. 1989. Oklahoma Herpetology. An Annotated Bibliography. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. 258 pp.
Carr, A. 1952. Handbook of Turtles. The Turtles of the United States, Canada, and Baja California. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 542 pp.
Conant, R., and J. T. Collins. 1998. A Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians. Eastern and Central North America. Third Edition, Expanded. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 616 pp.
Demlong, M. 1997. Personal communication—Herpetologist, Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, Arizona.
Dixon, J. R. 2000. Amphibians and Reptiles of Texas. Second Edition. Texas A & M University Press, College Station. 421 pp.
Dundee, H. A., and D. A. Rossman. 1989. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana. Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge and London. 300 pp + unattached erratum.
Ernst, C. H., and R. W. Barbour. 1972. Turtles of the United States and Canada. The University Press of Kentucky, Lexington. 347 pp.
Ernst, C. H., and R. W. Barbour. 1989. Turtles of the World. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. and London. 313 pp.
Ernst, C. H., J. E. Lovich, and R. W. Barbour. 1994. Turtles of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and London. 578 pp.
Garrett, J. M., and D. G. Barker. 1987. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Texas. Texas Monthly Press, Austin. 225 pp.
Heck, B. A. 1998. The alligator snapping turtle (Macroclemys temmincki) in southeast Oklahoma. Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science 78:53-58.
Iverson, J. B. 1992. A Revised Checklist with Distribution Maps of the Turtles of the World. John B. Iverson, Richmond, Indiana. 363 pp.
Iverson, J. [B.], P. [A.] Meylan, and M. [E.] Seidel. 2000. Testudines—turtles. Pp. 75-82. In: B. I. Crother (chair), and Committee on Standard English and Scientific Names (editors). Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular (29):i-iii, 1-82.
Johnson, T. R. 2000. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Missouri. Revised and Expanded Second Edition. Missouri Department of Conservation, Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri, Jefferson City. 400 pp.
King, F. W. 2000. Florida Museum of Natural History's Checklist of Florida Amphibians and Reptiles [online]. Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville. Available on URL: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herps/FL-GUIDE/Flaherps.htm.
King, F. W., and R. L. Burke (editors). 1989. Crocodilian, Tuatara, and Turtle Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. The Association of Systematics Collections, Washington, DC. 216 pp.
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Phillips, C. A., R. A. Brandon, and E. O. Moll. 1999. Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois. Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, Illinois. 282 pp.
Pope, C. H. 1939. Turtles of the United States & Canada. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 343 + v pp. (Reprinted 1971.)
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Powell, R., J. T. Collins, and E. D. Hooper, Jr. 1998. A Key to Amphibians & Reptiles of the Continental United States and Canada. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence. 131 pp.
Pritchard, P. C. H. 1979. Encyclopedia of Turtles. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune, New Jersey. 895 pp.
Pritchard, P. C. H. 1989. The Alligator Snapping Turtle. Biology and Conservation. Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee. 104 pp.
Pritchard, P. C. H. 1992. Alligator snapping turtle. Macroclemys temminckii (Harlan). Pp. 171-177. In: P. E. Moler (editor). Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida. Volume III. Amphibians and Reptiles. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. 292 pp.
[Sievert], G., and L. Sievert. [1988]. A Field Guide to Reptiles of Oklahoma. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Oklahoma City. 96 pp.
Sloan, K., and J. E. Lovich. 1995. Exploitation of the alligator snapping turtle, Macroclemys temminckii, in Louisiana: A case study. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 1(3):221-222.
Smith, H. M., and E. D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. A Guide to Field Identification. Reptiles of North America. Golden Press, New York. 240 pp.
Smith, P. A. 1961. The amphibians and reptiles of Illinois. Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin 28(1):[i-v], 1-298. (Reprinted 1986.)
Stevenson, H. S. 1976. Vertebrates of Florida. Identification and Distribution. University Presses of Florida, Gainesville. 607 pp.
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Webb, R. G. 1995. The date of publication of Gary's Catalogue of Shield Reptiles. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 1(4):322-323.
Zug, G. R., L. J. Vitt, and J. P. Caldwell. 2001. Herpetology. An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. Second Edition. Academic Press, San Diego. 630 pp.
Author: Pam Fuller and Louis A. Somma
Revision Date: 8/2/2002 Citation for this information:
Pam Fuller and Louis A. Somma. 2009. Macrochelys temminckii. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.
<http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=1227> Revision Date: 8/2/2002
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