The Alligator Snapping Turtle has been recorded from the Neosho, Verdigris, Walnut, and Arkansas River Basins in Kansas between 1885 and 1986. Records from Woods and Kay counties in Oklahoma indicate that this species may also be present in the Cimarron River and Arkansas River drainages, respectively (though Glass, 1949 felt that these wide sandy streams would not provide suitable habitat).
Alligator Snapping Turtles are very secretive and seldom seen in Kansas. Five specimens are documented from the state, one from the Arkansas River drainage in Cowley County and four from the Neosho River drainage in Labette, Lyon, and Montgomery counties. This species is restricted to the streams and rivers of southeastern Kansas and is probably more abundant than records indicate (Collins 1993).
Pritchard (1989) has studied this turtle throughout its range, and some of the information presented here is based on his observations.
A turtle of rivers, larger creeks, swamps, lakes, and sloughs, the Alligator Snapping Turtle is active from March to October, weather permitting. These large creatures spend the day under large logs or overhanging banks and actively move about and forage for food at night, particularly between midnight and dusk. Although almost completely aquatic, this species cannot remain submerged any longer than other water turtles. Only females are known to leave the water, and then only for the purpose of nesting.
Capron (1975) observed an adult Alligator Snapping Turtle active by day in the shallows of the Arkansas River in August but did not capture it. Irwin (1985) and Capron (1987) searched extensively but unsuccessfully for this turtle in southeastern Kansas.
Collins (1986) reported the discovery of a large 26.8 kg (59 lb) female Alligator Snapping Turtle from Onion Creek in Montgomery County. Using a transmitter, Capron (1986) tracked this same turtle in Onion Creek between 2 and 4 June and recorded movements of 176 yards between midnight and dawn. When resting during the day, the turtle used concealed, shady areas beneath log jams and drifts in shallow water (no more than 762 mm [30 inches] deep). After a period of heavy rainfall and flooding, Capron was unable to relocate the turtle, but five years later Shipman et al. (1991) rediscovered the same female example about 4½ river miles upstream. Using new transmitters, their preliminary results showed that this turtle migrated upstream, sometimes resting as much as eight days before moving. Movements lasted up to three hours and always took place between midnight and dawn.
Alligator Snapping Turtles probably are opportunistic breeders but have been reported to mate during warm weather from late April to mid-June. Courtship consists of the male mounting the female's upper shell, sometimes accompanied by vicious neck-biting on his part. Once mounted, the male bends his tail beneath hers until their cloacal openings meet. Copulation has been known to last nearly 30 minutes. Nesting activities take place during May and June and involve nest-digging by the female, usually in the mornings, on land about 40 feet from water. A female may lay a single clutch per season or a clutch every other year; clutches range in number from 9- 61 round white eggs which hatch in approximately 3-4 months. Capron (1975) reported mating behavior for this species during May in the Arkansas River in Kansas. Evidence of reproduction has not been reported in Kansas.
At night, large Alligator Snapping Turtles are active carnivores, preying on anything they can stalk, overpower, and swallow. A newborn or young turtle resting on the bottom underwater during the day uses a different technique for obtaining food. It sits motionless on the muddy bottom and opens its mouth in a wide gape when fishes swim nearby. Attached to its tongue is a pink or red fleshy projection resembling a "worm, " which the turtle wiggles to attract unwary fishes. When a fish swims into the gaping mouth to examine the worm, the Alligator Snapping Turtle has a meal. Shipman et al. (1991) reported a crayfish and muskrat as prey of a Montgomery County turtle. Pritchard (1989) recorded wild-caught examples of this turtle eating crayfishes, mollusks, fishes, salamanders, turtles, snakes, birds, and small mammals.
The only enemies of adult Alligator Snapping Turtles are people.
Cragin (1886) first reported the Alligator Snapping Turtle in Kansas based on two specimens. The first was captured by William Butler in the Neosho River two miles above Erie (Neosho County) during May of 1885. The second was a skull presented to Dr. Cragin at Washburn University that was collected from the Neosho River at Oswego (Labette County) in 1885 by Dr. William Smithson Newlon, but not studied until the previously mentioned specimen was obtained. The earliest known specimen (KU 197329) was the skull from Oswego, which was rediscovered at Washburn University by Joseph T. Collins in 2001 and the skull was transferred to the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History.
Householder (1916) published several interesting notes on this species in Kansas. He examined two Alligator Snapping Turtle shells in possession of D. M. Bliss of Columbus, Kansas. The larger specimen was 558.8 mm (22 inches) long by 533.4 mm (21 inches) wide (carapace); Mr. Bliss stated that the turtle weighed 47.6 kg (105 lbs) when caught by Andrew Jarrett at Rocky Ford (unknown locality; likely Neosho County because this is only shaded county on his map not represented by an unambiguous locality in his text) on the Neosho River in 1897. The smaller specimen measured 406.4 mm (16 inches) long by 406.4 mm (16 inches) wide (carapace) and weighted 29.5 kg (65 lbs) when captured by Captain Price in the Spring River at Baxter Springs (Cherokee County) in 1895. Householder (1916) further stated that he had personally observed this species in Kansas in the Neosho River at Neosho Park in Parsons (Labette County) in 1911, from the Walnut River at Augusta (Butler County) in 1912, and in the Cottonwood River at Florence (Marion County) in 1912.
Henry H. Hall reported (Hall and Smith 1947) personally observing 192.3 kg (402 lb) Alligator Snapping Turtle from the Neosho River just east of Chetopa (in Cherokee County). He stated another specimen has been observed at the same locality but had no additional information on it. Hall and Smith (1947) additionally reported on a third specimen taken from a canal of the Arkansas River in Sedgwick County. They further reported that they had been told the Sedgwick County specimen had been published in a local newspaper, however neither they or myself, have been able to find that article.
Listed as a Kansas Threatened Species in 1978, populations are now considered Kansas Species in Need of Conservation (SINC). The lack of evidence for reproducing populations and the insufficient overall documentation in Kansas is cited as the reasoning behind the lessened status (Shipman et al., 1993; but see Capron, 1975).
Platt et al. (1974) recommended close scrutiny of any pesticide use or flood control projects along rivers in southeastern Kansas which might seriously harm this turtle. In 1978, the Alligator Snapping Turtle was designated a threatened species in Kansas. Irwin (1985) recommended that this turtle continue to be so designated. Capron (1987) felt that this species was historically more common in Kansas and that any examples still in the state were probably only remnants of a former, more widespread population that has declined because of reduction or elimination of specific prey and construction of dams. Inexplicably, the Alligator Snapping Turtle was downgraded from the threatened to the SINC list after the first documented Kansas specimen in 20 years was discovered in Montgomery County (Collins, 1986b). Shipman et al. (1991) reported that a petition had been filed to place this turtle on the Kansas endangered species list.
There has been a considerable effort by many individuals (Irwin [1985], Capron [1975, 1986, 1987], and Shipman [1993]) to assess the distribution and status of this turtle in the state through fieldwork. Capron (1986) noted the rapid and extensive movements (usually at night) of the specimen he was radio-tracking in Montgomery County, indicating that individuals may be capable of substantial dispersal over their lifetime.
This turtle currently is known in Kansas only from five vouchered specimens collected in the Neosho River, Verdigris River, and Walnut River watersheds in southeastern Kansas between 1885 and 1986. Records from Woods and Kay counties in Oklahoma support the literature records for the Arkansas River drainage in Hall and Smith (1947) and indicate that this species may ultimately be discovered in the Cimarron River drainage system.
Capron (1986) described the habitat of the collection site of the only recently known specimen in Montgomery County, of being mud-bottomed and with numerous pools reaching depths of six feet at normal stream levels. Many deadfalls, log jams, and pockets of leaf litter were noted at the site as well. The stream was almost completely shaded by the canopy of adjacent trees. The Spring River and Shoal Creek were evaluated as to their capacity to support this taxon but were felt to be sub-optimal, (Capron, 1986)
Capron (1986) remarked that pollution and the obstruction caused by low-water dams as likely reasons for the scattered low-density populations that exist in Kansas.
Shipman et al. (1993) radio-tracked the same turtle as Capron, in an effort to better characterize utilized habitat types, determine growth rates and acquire diet information. They noted that all long-term movements of the turtle over their study were upstream, while short-term movements were not always directed upstream. Short-term movements could be substantial though, as evidenced by a movement that covered 227 meters in less than one hour. All movements were at night. Optimal sites were shown to consist of an overhead canopy, accumulated detritus, muddy substrate, and pools. Shipman et al. (1993) reported an attack by the Alligator Snapping Turtle they were tracking upon two Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina).
Pritchard (1989) hypothesized that Alligator Snapping Turtles in the northern parts of their range are older individuals. He postulates that once born, this species continually travels upstream. This hypothesis was further supported by the study of Shipman et al. (1993). However, a rigorous field test is warranted. If correct, the implications with respect to the numerous low-water overflow dams and low-water bridges in southeast Kansas may (as Capron, 1986 surmised) be insurmountable barriers to currently migrating individuals and inadvertently trapped existing populations.
Two hundred forty-six Alligator Snapping Turtles were repatriated into the Caney River from 2008 to 2010 just south of the Kansas line in Oklahoma, (Anthony et al. 2015). Since then several hundred more have been released in the Caney and Verdigris rivers, subsequent monitoring has failed to discover any turtles that have moved into Kansas yet (Taggart, 2016; D. Riedle, pers. com, 2017).
Based on a captive specimen, Snider and Bowler (1992) reported a maximum longevity for this turtle of seventy years, four months, and 26 days.
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