The alligator snapping turtles are the largest turtle species in North America. They are often quotted as the largest fresh water turtle in the
world, but there are few other species that match them in size. One of them is possibly the legendary soft-shelled turtle
from the Hoan Kiem Lake in Vietnam's capital Hanoi (probably the most endangered turtle species in the world).
The alligator snappers can reach over 200 pounds. It is not uncommon to encounter adults which weigh 100 - 120 pounds. The record belongs to an alligator
snapper from the Bronx ZOO, which was about 265 pounds at the peak of its life.
The gator snappers, as they are also called, grow to about 31 inches in carapace lenght.
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