Possessing a bite force that far surpasses that of great white sharks and jaguars, crocodile turtles can crush their prey in seconds.
With a large body and a destructive bite, the crocodile turtle is considered a scary “version” of the prehistoric dinosaur.
The rough, scary shape of the crocodile turtle. Photo: Reference.com.
Crocodile turtle
– Scientific name: Macrochelys temminckii.
– Distribution: Mainly in North America; scattered in Asia and Europe.
– Size: The heaviest is 100kg, nearly 70cm long.
Average lifespan: 50 to 100 years.
Although their appearance does not have many similarities, the fear that they cause to their fellow humans causes many biologists to call crocodile turtles “turtle beasts”.
The alligator turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in North America, and one of the largest turtles in the world. The largest male weighs up to 100kg.
The reason, it is called the crocodile turtle because its shell is not “gentle” like other turtles, but it looks fierce and scary of the Nile crocodile.
The alligator tortoise’s shell is like a triangular spike that protrudes defiantly.
The alligator tortoise’s shell is like a triangular spike that protrudes defiantly. Image: Wikipedia.
One of the most feared and visible “weapons” of crocodile turtles is their extremely strong jaws. If the bite force of the crocodile in general is only 158N, the bite force of the crocodile turtle is a record strong, up to 656N .
At this level of bite, the bites of brown bears, African lions, jaguars, white sharks, Siberian tigers … are still nothing compared to crocodile turtles.
The characteristic of this turtle is that it specializes in attacking and eating other turtle species in the area where they live.
In addition, demonstrating the ability to bite anything, crocodile turtles also become omnivores. They can devour other aquatic animals such as fish, snakes, water birds, even aquatic plants they do not spare.
