Sometimes described as the “dinosaur of the turtle world,” the alligator snapping turtle is found in river systems, lakes, and wetlands exclusively in the central and eastern United States. It is the largest of the North American freshwater turtles and can grow up to 200 pounds! Myths that these turtles are known to attack people is not true, but with a bite force of 1,000 pounds their jaws could snap through bone, so they should not be handled in the wild.
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