Alligator snapping turtle
The alligator snapping turtle is a freshwater turtle from the southeastern United States, distinguished by its spiked shell and powerful jaws.
Also known as: Macrochelys temminckii
How big is it?
60 cm long
Also 1.969 ft
Defined straight carapace length · defined specimen
Typical recorded range: 40 cm to 80 cm.
A little perspective
About the same scale as Human torso.
Human torso: The human torso is the central part of the body between the shoulders and hips, containing most major internal organs.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Alligator snapping turtle
A defined adult alligator snapping turtle with a 60 cm straight carapace and 35 kg mass. Head and tail extend beyond the calibrated shell span; very large individuals can be heavier.
US Fish and Wildlife Service — Alligator snapping turtle
The marked defined straight carapace length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Human torso
A headless trunk in a defined 70 kg adult model: 60 cm from shoulder level to hip and 30.42 kg using a published trunk mass fraction. Arms, legs, neck and head are excluded; this is not a population average.
de Leva — Adjustments to Zatsiorsky-Seluyanov segment inertia parameters
The marked defined shoulder-to-hip height is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 60 cm
For comparison, this page uses defined straight carapace length. This is labelled defined specimen: an explicit comparison model rather than a claim that every example has the same value. The recorded range is 40 cm to 80 cm.
A defined adult alligator snapping turtle with a 60 cm straight carapace and 35 kg mass. Head and tail extend beyond the calibrated shell span; very large individuals can be heavier.
The marked horizontal span follows the named feature; transparent margins and unmeasured details do not alter it. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Alligator snapping turtle dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 cm | 40 cm to 80 cm | defined specimen | |
| 35 kg | 15 kg to 80 kg | defined specimen |
Around this scale
Go smaller. Go bigger.
These links use compatible length records, ordered around the selected value.
Nearest lower value · Living thingsPlatypus50 cmThe platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal native to eastern Australia, notable for its duck-like bill and egg-laying reproduction.
Around the same scale · Everyday things60 cm floor tile60 cmA large tile is a square flooring piece, often ceramic or stone, used for covering expansive areas.
Nearest higher value · Living thingsRed fox70 cmThe red fox is a wild member of the dog family, recognised for its reddish fur and bushy tail, and is native to much of the Northern Hemisphere.Sources and method
Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- US Fish and Wildlife Service — Alligator snapping turtleSpecies anatomy and broad adult size variation; the atlas defines a straight-carapace specimen.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
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Living thingsSaltwater crocodile4.5 mThe saltwater crocodile is a large, semi-aquatic reptile native to coastal regions and river systems of Southeast Asia and Australia.
PeopleHuman torso60 cmThe human torso is the central part of the body between the shoulders and hips, containing most major internal organs.
SpaceSputnik 158 cmSputnik 1 was the first artificial satellite launched into Earth orbit by the Soviet Union in 1957.
Everyday thingsA2 paper59.4 cmA2 paper is an ISO 216 paper format produced by halving an A1 sheet across its longer side.
SportCricket wicket set71.12 cmA cricket wicket set is the arrangement of three upright wooden stumps topped by two bails, serving as the target for bowlers and fielders in cricket.Living thingsPlatypus50 cmThe platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal native to eastern Australia, notable for its duck-like bill and egg-laying reproduction.
ContainersMilk churn40 LA milk churn is a traditional metal container used for transporting and storing milk from farms to dairies.