Alligator snapping turtle

Description
It is the largest fresh water turtle in the world. With a prehistoric appearance, its shell resembles a tree trunk. This shell serves as camouflage and protection. It has a large head with a very powerful, spiked jaw. It has very strong legs and a tail which is quite long and thick.

Behaviour
It is a solitary species. They lay 10 to 50 eggs which hatch after a period of 100 to 140 days. The young emerge from the eggs and instinctively go to the water, but less than half survive the first months of life due to various predators. It is a passive predator. On the tip of its tongue it has a vermiform appendage (which imitates the shape of a worm), in order to attract fish. To hunt, it stays motionless at the bottom of the water with its mouth open, moving its tongue; when prey approaches, it closes its mouth with great speed and force.

Interesting Facts
The main threats to this species are the alteration of its habitat, exploitation by hunters for a large internal market and growing international market for its meat, and pollution and the accumulation of pesticides.