Alligator Snapping Turtle

The alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) is a species of turtle in the family Chelydridae, native to freshwater habitats in the United States. M. temminckii is one of the heaviest freshwater turtles in the world. It is often associated with, but not closely related to, the common snapping turtle, which is in the genus Chelydra. Thespecific epithet temminckii is in honor of Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck.

Although it was once believed that only one extant species exists in the genus Macrochelys, recent studies have shown that there are two species, the other being the Suwannee snapping turtle (M. suwanniensis) of the Suwannee River (a third species, the Apalachicola snapping turtle M. apalachicolae, has been proposed, but is generally not recognized).

The alligator snapping turtle is given its common name because of its immensely powerful jaws and long, spring-like neck, as well as distinct ridges on its shell that are similar in appearance to the rough, ridged skin of an alligator.