SpeciesFacts

All species › Reptiles › Alligator Snapping Turtle

Alligator Snapping Turtle

Macrochelys temminckii

Reptile · family Chelydridae · order Testudines

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G3: vulnerable[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Alligator Snapping Turtle
Photo: Peter Paplanus from St. Louis, Missouri, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Proposed Threatened[1]
NatureServe global rank
G3 Vulnerable[2]
Native in
14 states[3]
Longest recorded life
70.3 years[4]

The Alligator Snapping Turtle is a reptile in the family Chelydridae[5]. It is proposed for Threatened status under the US Endangered Species Act and is native to 14 US states[1][3].

Conservation status

Under the US Endangered Species Act, the USFWS lists this turtle as Proposed Threatened[1]. NatureServe ranks it G3 (Vulnerable) worldwide and N3 (Vulnerable) in the United States[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Endangered[7]. NatureServe also estimates the total adult population at 10,000 to 100,000 individuals[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Proposed Threatened
NatureServe global rank[2] G3 (Vulnerable)
NatureServe US rank[6] N3 (Vulnerable)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Endangered
CITES (international trade)[9] Appendix III
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[8] 10,000 to 100,000 individuals

Where Alligator Snapping Turtle lives

NatureServe lists this turtle as native in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas[3]. It is ranked as extirpated or possibly extirpated in Indiana, which means it may be gone from that state[10]. Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama and Mississippi have the most observation records, but that reflects where people look and report, not how many turtles live there[11].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: native, state rank S1ILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: native, state rank SUIAIndiana: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SHINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: native, state rank S2MOKentucky: native, state rank S1KYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: native, state rank S1KSArkansas: native, state rank S3ARTennessee: native, state rank S2TNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: native, state rank S1OKLouisiana: native, state rank S2LAMississippi: native, state rank S3MSAlabama: native, state rank S3ALGeorgia: native, state rank S2GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S2TXFlorida: native, state rank S3FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[12].
Show state ranks (15 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS3Vulnerable
ArkansasS3Vulnerable
FloridaS3Vulnerable
GeorgiaS2Imperiled
IllinoisS1Critically Imperiled
IndianaSHPossibly Extirpated
IowaSUUnrankable
KansasS1Critically Imperiled
KentuckyS1Critically Imperiled
LouisianaS2Imperiled
MississippiS3Vulnerable
MissouriS2Imperiled
OklahomaS1Critically Imperiled
TennesseeS2Imperiled
TexasS2Imperiled

Habitat

This turtle lives in slow, deep water, such as swamps, bayous, sloughs and ponds near large waterways[13]. It also uses shallow creeks that flow into waterways where it lives, and it sometimes enters brackish water near the coast[13]. The bottom is usually mud with some water plants, though sand-bottomed waters are used in Florida[13]. NatureServe records habitat types including forested wetland, riparian areas, creeks and deep water[14].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[14]

Size, diet and lifespan

This turtle eats many aquatic animals, carrion and some plant material, and it mostly feeds along the bottom[15]. Young turtles favor fish, and the young are the ones that most often wiggle a tongue appendage as a fish lure[15]. NatureServe records a typical length of 66 cm (26 in) and a typical adult weight of 68 kg (150 lb)[16][17]. A typical clutch size is 30, and incubation takes 120 days[18][19]. Females reach sexual maturity at about 4,015 days[20]. The longest recorded lifespan comes from a turtle in captivity, and it is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 66 cm (26 in)
Typical adult weight[17] 68 kg (150 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 70.3 years (captivity)
Litter or clutch size[18] 30
Gestation or incubation[19] 120 days
Female maturity[20] 4,015 days (about 11.0 years)
Food habits[21] Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore, Herbivore
Migration[22] local migrant

When to look for it

Adults are active at night and at dawn and dusk[23]. NatureServe calls it a local migrant, and populations can differ[22]. Observation records on GBIF peak in May, August and September[24]. These records show when people look and report, not how many turtles there are[24].

January: 19 recordsJanFebruary: 27 recordsFebMarch: 69 recordsMarApril: 128 recordsAprMay: 166 recordsMayJune: 140 recordsJunJuly: 103 recordsJulAugust: 370 recordsAugSeptember: 243 recordsSepOctober: 85 recordsOctNovember: 29 recordsNovDecember: 21 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[24].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January19
February27
March69
April128
May166
June140
July103
August370
September243
October85
November29
December21

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi[11]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the alligator snapping turtle endangered?
The USFWS lists it as Proposed Threatened under the Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G3 (Vulnerable) worldwide[2].
Where does the alligator snapping turtle live?
It is native to Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas[3].
What does the alligator snapping turtle eat?
It eats many aquatic animals, carrion and some plants[15]. Young turtles favor fish[15].
How big is the alligator snapping turtle?
NatureServe records a typical length of 66 cm (26 in) and a typical adult weight of 68 kg (150 lb)[16][17].
How long does the alligator snapping turtle live?
The oldest known lifespan was recorded in captivity, and it is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Under the US Endangered Species Act, Alligator snapping turtle has the status Proposed Threatened (USFWS ECOS). States in the listed range: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma,... USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Alligator Snapping Turtle: G3 (Vulnerable). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Alligator Snapping Turtle as native in 14 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 70.3 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) is a reptile in the family Chelydridae, order Testudines. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N3 (Vulnerable). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Endangered. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to 100,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  9. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix III (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe ranks Alligator Snapping Turtle as extirpated or possibly extirpated (SX or SH) in: Indiana. NatureServe Explorer
  11. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Alligator Snapping Turtle: Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  12. NatureServe state ranks for Alligator Snapping Turtle (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Alligator Snapping Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Habitat types NatureServe records for Alligator Snapping Turtle: Forested wetland, Riparian, Big river, Medium river, Creek, Low gradient, Pool, Deep water, Shallow water, River mouth/tidal river. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on food for Alligator Snapping Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 66 cm (26 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 68 kg (150 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 30. AnAge
  19. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 120 days. AnAge
  20. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 4,015 days (about 11.0 years). AnAge
  21. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore, Herbivore. NatureServe Explorer
  22. NatureServe migration category for Alligator Snapping Turtle: local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  23. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Nocturnal, Crepuscular. NatureServe Explorer
  24. GBIF observation records of Alligator Snapping Turtle in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Peter Paplanus from St. Louis, Missouri, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.