Do Alligators Eat Turtles? Yes! Explore All The Details

Turtle and Alligator farming startups are on the rise at present. Farmers often wonder about the relationship: if they are friendly, share the same habitat, or can be fatal to one another. 

So, the main question is, do alligators eat turtles? Well, yes, alligators eat turtles despite turtles’ having one of the toughest shells in the animal kingdom. Alligators won’t necessarily go for hunting turtles, but they will surely prey on them if needed. 

The discussion further associates whether alligators eat turtles, how they break the shell, and the digestive process. You need to stay tuned till the end to unfold all the facts. 

Do Alligators Eat Turtles?  What About The Turtles’ Almost Unbreakable Shells? 

Alligators do not go hunting; rather, they are opportunistic and wait for their prey to come. If their prey is in front of them, they will definitely devour it. The same happens with turtles; if they come across the alligator and they need to prey, the alligator will certainly eat turtles. 

Alligators generally belong to the freshwater, the same habitat as the turtles. These carnivorous reptiles eat turtles if they are hungry. A study on the Diet and Condition of American Alligators in 4 Florida Lakes shows the presence of turtles in the alligators’ stomachs. 

These three turtle species have been marked in that research:

• Yellow-bellied turtle (Trachemys scripta)
• Florida red-bellied turtle (Pseudemys nelsoni)
• Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox) 

Other Types of Turtle’s Alligators Eat

Earlier, we have mentioned certain species of turtles that American Alligators eat. In general, alligators prey on smaller turtles and not the giant ones. But there are some particular types, and they are:

• Softshell Turtles: These turtles have leathery and soft shells, which become the biggest scope for the alligators. They can eat these turtles whole without struggling to crush the shell. 
• Cooters: Cooters basically have smooth shells and are medium-sized. The approximate 16 inches size works great for alligator jaws. 
• Snapping Turtles: Snapping turtles have defensive jaws, and they have a reputation for severe bites. But considering the jaw strength of alligators, these turtles do not actually stand a chance. 

Can Alligators Break Turtle Shell? 

A Turtle shell is one of the strongest defenses in nature that any animal has. This dome-shaped part consists of multiple layers; scutes are the outermost portions. The scute is made with Keratin, which does not have any blood supply.

The innermost part is integrated with the skeleton of the turtle. The top part is known as the carapace, which is basically a vertebrae (modified, of course). This unique structure makes the shell the most reliable armor for the creature. 

On the other hand, alligators have one of the most fierce bite forces. American Alligators reportedly have 2000 psi bite force, which is way more than a lion (600 psi). These alligators certainly have jaws strong enough to break turtle shells without any issue. 

Is It Easy For the Alligators to Prey Turtles? 

Alligators prefer fleshy prey; turtles, despite having shells, offer convenient meaty bodies. As a predator, alligators hold immense power against the turtles. In the following segment, we have discussed the convenience of preying on turtles for alligators.

Size

An average male alligator can range up to 3.4 meters (11.4 feet). The largest turtle, on the other hand, can be up to 7 feet. Even the largest turtle is smaller than an average alligator. The enormous size of an alligator makes it powerful enough to eat turtles. 

Crocodiles are even bigger than alligators in size and have almost 4000-5000 psi bite force. Hence, apart from alligators, crocodiles eat turtles conveniently. 

Lack of Defense

Turtles have the strongest shells for their defense. But when it comes to one of the strongest bite forces of an alligator, the shell does not work. Also, the turtles do not have any fightback weapons, which makes them easy prey. At times, fish eat turtles due to their lack of defense mechanisms. 

Even turtles are not blessed with speed; hence, they actually cannot run from their predators. 

Underwater Survival Ratio

An alligator can survive up to two hours underwater when it is at rest. In extremely cold water, it can survive almost eight hours. However, an average dive will last for 10 to 20 minutes. 

Turtles can survive underwater for 45 minutes, whereas they have to come up to breathe for a few seconds. Their average dive lasts for 4 to 5 minutes. This sums up how alligators can chase turtles underwater for very long. Hence, turtles fail to survive from alligators even underwater. 

Death Rolls

Though alligators are not hunters, when prey comes in contact with them, survival is very rare. Alligators hold a turtle in their mouth and make several bites to crush the shell. If this technique does not work, they go for a death roll. They spin the prey in the longitudinal axis direction. This method makes it impossible for the turtles to escape. 

What Are the Issues Associated With Eating Turtles For the Alligators? 

Though turtles are quite convenient prey for the alligators, hunting them can be dangerous as well. 

• Often, alligators swallow the whole turtle. If the turtles have shell spikes, have rough skin, and are fairly large, they can get stuck in the throat. It will suffocate the alligator. 
• If the turtle shell is extremely strong, the alligator might end up chipping or breaking its teeth. 
• Due to the excessive acidic digestion system of the alligators, digesting thick turtle shells is not problematic. However, often, the multi-layered thick shell can cause bloating or constipation. Young alligators face difficulties digesting turtle shells as their digestive organs are still in the progressing stage. 

Conclusion

Turtles, despite having one of the strongest shells, are one of the prominent items in the alligators’ diet. Alligators never put effort into hunting down a turtle; rather, they eat them when they come across them. 

Alligators can go for years without eating; they are this much lazy when it comes to hunting. Turtles, on the other hand, are the most convenient prey for them. Hence, the turtles are, though not extremely preferred, the easiest diet options for alligators.