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 · defined straight carapace length
Also 1.969 ft
Defined straight carapace length · defined specimen
Typical recorded range: 40 cm to 80 cm.
A little perspective
Alligator snapping turtle vs Human torso: length comparison
The straight carapace length of an alligator snapping turtle is approximately equal to the shoulder-to-hip height of the human torso.
The alligator snapping turtle is a freshwater turtle from the southeastern United States, distinguished by its spiked shell and powerful jaws.
The human torso is the central part of the body between the shoulders and hips, containing most major internal organs.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions. Horizontal rulers compare the selected spans; vertical brackets also identify height on the artwork.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Alligator snapping turtle
Defined straight carapace length: 60 cm; defined specimen; range 40 cm–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.
US Fish and Wildlife Service — Alligator snapping turtle
The marked defined straight carapace length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Human torso
Defined shoulder-to-hip height: 60 cm; representative model; range 50 cm–70 cm.
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.
Use the visual comparison to explore its scale, then check the measurements and sources.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 60 cm
We compare the straight carapace length of an alligator snapping turtle. This is an illustrative comparison value, not a claim that every example is the same. 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 measured feature, not the edges of the image. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
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
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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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