turtle-aggressive

turtle-aggressive

The turtle-aggressive alligator / caiman (Macrochelys temminckii sometimes called Macroclemys temminckii) is a species of freshwater turtle chelydridae family. It is the only species of the genus Macrochelys. This species inhabits the rivers, lakes and swamps of the southern United States. The name "alligator snapping turtle" or "turtle-crocodile" is due to its large size (it is the largest freshwater turtle in North America) and its powerful bite that is used to grab prey.

This species was the subject of an episode of the Animal Planet Weird Creatures program.

Habits and food

Although larger than its cousin, the snapping turtle, the alligator turtle is less aggressive. Its shell with plates (which increase the resemblance to the alligator) and often covered with algae, it helps the turtle to camouflage. Unmoving in the bottom of a lake or swamp, she waits patiently until prey come on and then grasps it with powerful jaws. This animal has a curious appendix attached to the language that resembles a worm or other worm. This serves as bait for fish and other animals. Property with open mouth underwater, turtle balance the small bait, attracting the right meal into his mouth.

Their diet is omnivorous, consisting basically of fish, but including almost all they manage to catch and swallow, such as carcasses of dead animals, aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, small reptiles and smaller turtles. Usually hunt most actively at night. Their life expectancy is usually 20-30 years but have been documented individuals up to 70 years or more.

reproduction

Spawn 8-52 eggs (with an average of 25 eggs) with about 37 to 45 mm in length, 37 to 40 mm wide and 24 to 36 grams, which takes about 82 to 140 days to hatch, and on average only 78% of the eggs hatch only (the temperature influences the development time and eggs, a slight increase in incubation temperature decrease incubation time). The incubation of the eggs can be naturally made in outdoor ponds borders or artificial incubation systems (thus obtaining greater efficiency) with a mixture of vermiculite and water 1: 1 by weight for the deposition of the eggs, thus maintaining about 90 % moisture where the vessel must remain closed and only with constant temperature ranging between 25 and 30 ° C, the eggs and rotted infertile must be removed so noted. Temperatures around 29 and 30 ° C are born higher percentage of females and temperatures around 25 and 26 ° C higher percentage of males born. The hatchlings are born with 39-42 mm carapace length, with 34-38 mm carapace width, with 57-61 mm tail length and 18 to 22 grams of weight. Their main predators are when small birds, fish, mammals and crocodiles. They reach sexual maturity between 11 and 13 years old.