Wildlife conservationists in Florida stumbled across an enormous species of turtle that looks like it crawled out of a monster movie.

Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission captured three Suwannee alligator snapping turtles last week, including one that weighed 100 pounds.

The massive reptiles, known formally as Macrochelys suwanniensis, are a new species, according to a post on the FWC Facebook page.

The 100-pound male and a 46-pound female were found in a hoop net trap in the New River, north of Gainesville, along with another 64-pound male found in a trap. nearby.

The commission has been studying these prehistoric-looking creatures since 2014. Researchers estimate that the trio is anywhere from 40 and 80 years old.

Once the three turtles had their photograph taken and vital stats recorded, they were released back into the river.

'The New River is a blackwater stream with low biological productivity, so finding a large turtle in such a small stream is unusual,' the agency said.

The FWC has been collaborating with researchers in Florida and Georgia to study the population size and distribution of Suwannee alligator snapping turtles, which is indigenous to the area.

Previously, it was believed there was only one living species of alligator snapping turtle. A third species, the Apalachicola snapping turtle, has been proposed but is not widely recognized.

Alligator snapping turtles are the largest freshwater turtles in North America. Despite its name, they're not closely related to the common snapping turtle, which is in a different genus.

It's name is derived from the ridges on its shell that resemble the rough skin of an alligator. With a beaklike jaw, spiked shell and scaly, thick tail, it's also been dubbed 'the dinosaur of the turtle world.'

They spend most of their lives in rivers and canals, except when the female crawls ashore & can stay underwater for 40 to 50 before surfacing for air.

Most live to about 70, though there have been reports of alligator snapping turtles living to 100.

Males alligator snapping turtles weigh about 175 pounds, according to National Geographic, although they can surpass 200 pounds. Females are much smaller, usually weighing under 50lbs.

Beyond their bizarre appearance, alligator snapping turtles have a truly unique hunting technique. They uses a bright pink chunk of flesh on their tongues like a lure, drawing in curious fish and frogs.

Once its prey gets in range, the previously motionless reptile snaps its jaw shut.

With their size and natural defenses, alligator snapping turtles have no natural predators except for humans, who hunt them for their meat and shells.

The turtles' numbers have declined precipitously in recent years due to unregulated harvesting and habitat loss. Scientists are particularly concerned about the Suwannee because of its limited habitat.

'If something catastrophic were to occur, such as a chemical spill or something that affects the entire river, it could potentially devastate this species,' Travis Thomas, a FWC scientist said in 2014. 'All it has is this river and it has nowhere else to go.'

www.nairaland.com/attachments/12224847_5_jpegddf9c9a45551e218c4018d5c53e9f6bb

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8671853/Monster-sized-snapping-turtle-weighing-100-POUNDS-pulled-river-Florida.html

What a creature!

Scary mbekwu

It won't be knew if you watch Nat Geo Wild. Its hunting skill is far impressive amongst turtles. With its tongue like an earthworm it uses to catch fishes.

Omo see meat

Do you know that turtles have the biggest penis in the world compared to their body size?

Try google it and be shocked

Small compare to the one i saw...

fvck shit

God isGREAT

ExBanker:
Do you know that turtles have the biggest penis in the world compared to their body size?

Try google it and be shocked

Of all things to point out..



On a lighter note, big doesn't denote great productivity ........ Compare population sizes.


.

Chosen1984:
The Mystery of the sea is yet to be known by Man.
The Creatures are gradually beginning to Show themselves..
They all are Reacting to What is about to Happen.
Listen Folks! We are at the Endtimes. We are at the End of the age.
In all you Do or you are Engage, Remember what is Paramount! Remember what is Most Important!
Time is Running out..

Righteousness has 2 accounts?

this looks like demon, meanwhile some nigerians will be thinking of perpper soup right now

Animals still full this world wey person never see especially the aquatic kingdom

Dem dey good for juju Sha especially the prick

If found in some places, it's FOOD IS READY

Chosen1984:
The Mystery of the sea is yet to be known by Man.
The Creatures are gradually beginning to Show themselves..
They all are Reacting to What is about to Happen.
Listen Folks! We are at the Endtimes. We are at the End of the age.
In all you Do or you are Engage, Remember what is Paramount! Remember what is Most Important!
Time is Running out..

low budget Righteousness89

Jafar1:


Righteousness has 2 accounts?

no loud am

skinny419:
Omo see meat

lik seriously, wat comes to ur mind is meat.

These days na dinosaur threads they move market pass

Mutemenot:
Scary mbekwu

Guy u from abua??

Chosen1984:
The Mystery of the sea is yet to be known by Man.
The Creatures are gradually beginning to Show themselves..
They all are Reacting to What is about to Happen.
Listen Folks! We are at the Endtimes. We are at the End of the age.
In all you Do or you are Engage, Remember what is Paramount! Remember what is Most Important!
Time is Running out..

The joker.

Discovering of dinosaurs era

Dinasaw

merieam16:
lik seriously, wat comes to ur mind is meat.Den it is finished

I already knew the best soup for it, sef:
Banga soup laced with perewinkle, eaten with hot yellow starch

DavidEsq:

I already knew the best soup for it, sef:
Banga soup laced with perewinkle, eaten with hot yellow starch

Are you from Delta State?

They still found a way to robe the Dinosaur in

These scientists should just create a replica, so, that the human race can move on to other animals ...


like DRAGON

Cool looking creature..

Monster