### Identification Looking like a rugged relic from the Cretaceous, the Alligator Snapping Turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in North America. Its craggy, dark brown or olive carapace is defined by three prominent, spiked longitudinal ridges. Unlike the Common Snapping Turtle (*Chelydra serpentina*), which has a smoother shell and eyes positioned toward the top of its head, the Alligator Snapper has eyes on the sides of its massive, triangular head and a formidable, hooked beak. A key field mark is the presence of "supramarginal" scutes—an extra row of scales between the edge and the side of the shell—unique to this genus.
### Habitat & Range This species is a specialist of the deep, slow-moving waters of the Southeastern United States, primarily within the Mississippi River drainage and Gulf Coast river systems. You’ll find them in muddy-bottomed rivers, oxbow lakes, and cypress swamps, usually at lower elevations. They favor habitats with ample cover, such as submerged logs or dense aquatic vegetation, where they can remain hidden.
### Behaviour Primarily nocturnal and intensely sedentary, these turtles are the ultimate "ghosts of the riverbed." An observer might only see a mossy snout breaking the surface for air. They spend hours motionless, often allowing thick coats of algae to grow on their shells for perfect camouflage. Breeding occurs in early spring, with females making rare treks onto land to lay up to 50 leathery eggs in sandy banks.
### Diet While they are opportunistic scavengers of carrion and fallen fruit, they are master hunters of fish, crayfish, and even other turtles. They utilize a "gape-and-lure" technique, sitting motionless with their mouths wide open to attract prey.
### Fascinating Fact The Alligator Snapper possesses a "biological fishing lure." Attached to the floor of its mouth is a pink, bifurcated (split) tongue that looks exactly like a wriggling worm. By twitching this lure against the dark backdrop of its mouth, the turtle entices unsuspecting fish to swim directly into its jaws!