棲息地

美國中部及南部

生殖

12歲性成熟、孵化期為100-140天、每胎產10~50顆蛋、幼龜的性別視孵化時的溫度來決定

特徵與習性

真鱷龜分布於美國中部及南部，盾板有3列大型鋸齒狀突起，上顎下鉤，頭頸有許多肉突。為大型淡水龜，最大背甲長超過80公分，體重可達110公斤，性情兇猛。 屬水棲龜類，跟烏龜不同的是無法將頭腳縮入殼內，除產卵外極少離開水域。口腔底部有類似蠕蟲的紅色突起構造，平時於水底張嘴引誘魚類靠近而捕食。鱷龜不怕寒冷，不懼炎熱，氣後適應力極佳。 The alligator snapping turtle will eat almost anything they can catch. Unlike other turtles, alligator snapping turtles cannot retract their head and limbs into their shell. Their upper and lower mouth is shaped like a hook, similar to an eagle's beak, and is sharp enough to bite off a person's finger. The alligator snapping turtles are very aggressive when be threatened, thus they are not easy to keep as a pet and often get abandoned.