All Animals

Animal Guide

Alligator Snapping Turtle

85 destinations · 34 states

Native Range
Southeastern United States

The alligator snapping turtle looks like a creature built for camouflage. Its heavily ridged shell resembles a chunk of bark or rock, while the rough skin and hooked beak add to its prehistoric appearance. In the water, it spends much of its time resting almost motionless on the bottom, waiting for prey to come close. One of its strangest features is a worm-like lure on the floor of its mouth. By holding still and moving this tongue-like appendage, the turtle can attract curious fish within striking distance. When something gets close enough, the jaws snap shut with surprising speed. Despite their formidable appearance, alligator snapping turtles are not constantly aggressive. They are ambush hunters that rely heavily on patience and disguise. Look closely at the shell and you'll see deep ridges running from front to back, giving adults an especially rugged profile. In a zoo or aquarium, watching one slowly reposition itself or open its powerful jaws offers a good look at how a predator can be successful without chasing its food.

Alligator Snapping Turtle

Where to see Alligator Snapping Turtle

85 destinations across 34 states

85 destinations

Abilene Zoo

Abilene, TX

ABQ BioPark Zoo

Albuquerque, NM

Alexandria Zoological Park

Alexandria, LA

Alligator Alley Adventures

Wisconsin Dells, WI

Audubon Zoo

New Orleans, LA

Austin Zoo

Austin, TX

Bee City Zoo & Honey Bee Farm

Cottageville, SC

Belle Isle Aquarium

Detroit, MI

Biomes Marine Biology Center

North Kingstown, RI

Birmingham Zoo

Birmingham, AL

Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park

Alto, MI

Bramble Park Zoo

Watertown, SD

Branson's Wild World

Branson, MO

BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo

Baton Rouge, LA

Brevard Zoo

Melbourne, FL

Bronx Zoo

Bronx, NY

Cameron Park Zoo

Waco, TX

Children's Aquarium Dallas

Dallas, TX

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Cincinnati, OH

Claws 'N' Paws Wild Animal Park

Lake Ariel, PA

Clyde Peeling's Reptiland

Allenwood, PA

Colorado Gators Reptile Park

Mosca, CO

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

Powell, OH

Croc Encounters

Tampa, FL

Denver Zoo

Denver, CO

Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den

Scranton, PA

Ellen Trout Zoo

Lufkin, TX

Emerald Coast Zoo

Crestview, FL

Flint RiverQuarium

Albany, GA

Fort Worth Zoo

Fort Worth, TX

Georgia Aquarium

Atlanta, GA

Gladys Porter Zoo

Brownsville, TX

Greensboro Science Center

Greensboro, NC

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park

Fort Walton Beach, FL

Henry Vilas Zoo

Madison, WI

Lake Tobias Wildlife Park

Halifax, PA

Little Rock Zoo

Little Rock, AR

Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo

Monroe, LA

Louisville Zoo

Louisville, KY

Memphis Zoo

Memphis, TN

Mesker Park Zoo

Evansville, IN

Mississippi Aquarium

Gulfport, MS

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium

Sarasota, FL

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

Nashville, TN

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

Dubuque, IA

North Carolina Zoo

Asheboro, NC

North Georgia Wildlife Park & Safari

Cleveland, GA

Oklahoma Aquarium

Jenks, OK

Oklahoma City Zoo

Oklahoma City, OK

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

Omaha, NE

Panaewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens

Hilo, HI

Peoria Zoo

Peoria, IL

Pocono Snake & Animal Farm

East Stroudsburg, PA

Pueblo Zoo

Pueblo, CO

Reptile Gardens

Rapid City, SD

Reptile Lagoon

Hamer, SC

Reptile World Serpentarium

St Cloud, FL

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

Columbia, SC

Riverside Reptiles Education Center

Enfield, CT

Saint Louis Zoo

St. Louis, MO

Salato Wildlife Education Center

Frankfort, KY

Seaport Aquarium

Wildwood, NJ

Sedgwick County Zoo

Wichita, KS

Shedd Aquarium

Chicago, IL

Shreveport Aquarium

Shreveport, LA

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Vallejo, CA

Smithsonian National Zoological Park

Washington, DC

Snake Discovery: A Reptile Experience

Maplewood, MN

St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

St. Augustine, FL

Steinhart Aquarium

San Francisco, CA

Tallahassee Museum

Tallahassee, FL

Tarpon Springs Aquarium & Animal Sanctuary

Tarpon Springs, FL

Tennessee Aquarium

Chattanooga, TN

The Creature Conservancy

Ann Arbor, MI

The Florida Aquarium

Tampa, FL

Toledo Zoo & Aquarium

Toledo, OH

Tregembo Animal Park

Wilmington, NC

VIA Aquarium

Schenectady, NY

Virginia Zoo

Norfolk, VA

Wild Adventures

Valdosta, GA

Wild Florida Adventure Park

Kenansville, FL

Wildlife Prairie Park

Hanna City, IL

Wonder Gardens

Bonita Springs, FL

Zoo Atlanta

Atlanta, GA

ZooAmerica

Hershey, PA

Your ZooHopper Passport

Turn your wildlife adventures into a Passport

Keep track of the zoos, aquariums, safari parks, and wildlife destinations you've visited—and save the places you want to explore next.

  • Remember every visit
  • Build your wishlist
  • Collect Passport Stamps
  • Share photos & contribute
Create Your Passport

Dan's Passport

Places
12
States
6
Wishlist
9

Passport stamps

Recently visited

  • Bronx ZooBronx, NY
  • Georgia AquariumAtlanta, GA
  • San Diego Zoo Safari ParkEscondido, CA

MY WISHLIST

Monterey Bay AquariumMonterey, CA