Reading the Water: teacher key

Alligator Snapping Turtles, grade 8 edition, written for 8th grade. The alligator snapping turtle is the only turtle species with a body part for luring prey, and it samples the water for chemicals from prey. Follow its life from nest to river and see how far one turtle ranged.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. How does an alligator snapping turtle sample the water for chemicals from prey?
   • By pumping water in and out of the throat (answer)
   • By waving its tail
   • By digging in the sand
2. How long can the turtle stay under water before it comes up for air?
   • 5 to 10 minutes
   • Two hours
   • 40 to 50 minutes (answer)
3. When did Louisiana ban commercial harvest of alligator snapping turtles anywhere in the state?
   • 1991
   • 2004 (answer)
   • 1999
4. Where do young alligator snapping turtles live?
   • In the deepest lakes
   • In canals only
   • In smaller streams (answer)
5. The turtle lies still and waves a worm-like lure. What does this suggest about how it gets fish?
   • It chases them
   • It lets fish come close to it (answer)
   • It digs them out of the sand
6. What do hatcheries do for alligator snapping turtles?
   • They raise young turtles to set free in rivers (answer)
   • They sell turtles to restaurants
   • They build nests in the sand

Words

• algae: water plant-like growth
• lure: to attract
• scavengers: eat dead animals
• commercial: for sale
• hatcheries: places raising young