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Life Expectancy
The average lifespan of an alligator snapping turtle is between 20 and 70 years, although some can live longer, reaching around 100 years of age. If an alligator snapping turtle escapes the dangers that it faces as an egg and a hatchling and reaches maturity, it has a good chance of living a long life.
Threats
Alligator snapping turtles face the greatest threat from their natural predators such as birds and raccoons when they are eggs and hatchlings. As adults, their only predators are human, and the lifespan of this creature is often affected by hunting. Alligator snapping turtles are captured by humans to be sold as pets and are also hunted for their shells and meat. Other threats to the alligator snapping turtle include pesticide use and habitat loss.
Adaptations for Survival
The alligator snapping turtle is well-adapted for survival in its natural habitat. An effective hunter, it avoids detection by prey such as fish by remaining motionless underwater for up to 50 minutes. It attracts other prey such as frogs by sticking out its worm-like tongue and keeping its body still. An extremely tough shell, covered in keels, helps the alligator snapping turtle camouflage itself when hunting and provides a high level of protection to the turtle's body. Other defense mechanisms such as a powerful bite and the ability to produce a foul-smelling substance also provide protection.
Life Cycle
Alligator snapping turtles begin to reproduce when they reach sexual maturity at between 11 and 13 years of age. After mating in the spring, the female turtle creates a nest by digging a hole in the ground and produces a clutch of between eight and 52 eggs. The eggs are incubated for a period of between 79 and 107 days. Eggs that are incubated at cooler temperatures produce male hatchlings while eggs that are incubated at warmer temperatures produce females. Female alligator snapping turtles usually wait for at least one year before producing their next clutch of eggs.