What the heck is this???

Alligator snapping turtle. Definetly not something you want your fingers anywhere near.

yup, my wife read the page and says they found it as an alligator snapping turtle, but that it did not belong to the area and that they are concerned that they will be a threat to the lake that it was found in.  they do not know if there are any more in the lake.

they said it made a really nice soup.

I once picked one of those up off the bottom of a Texas river, thinking it was a regular turtle.  Scared the crap outta me. 

Page translated through babelfish:

http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?doit=done&tt=url&intl=1&fr=bf-home&trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.wenxuecity.com%2Fmessages%2F201005%2Fnews-gb2312-1090118.html&lp=zh_en&btnTrUrl=Translate

or:

Anhui fisherman seizes a heterogeneous biology: The testudo elephantopus alligator looks like the dinosaur likely! (figure) international online

Sun Yongcheng seizes biology

　　A Chinese Anhui fisherman recently fished for in the lake to an unusual living thing, its head picture alligator, body likely dinosaur, but carries on the back steadily the testudo elephantopus same carapace. After local fishery department's expert appraisal indicated that this living thing belongs to the external species, very possible is only produces in Americas' big alligator turtle. Its appearance will possibly pose the threat to the local ecosystem.

　　The grandson will forever become (transliterates) recently catches the fishing when the Weishan lake the net to a strange living thing, “sees when it I am scared, in its net is going all out to struggle, attempts to bite open the net to escape.”This living thing length 76 centimeters, width 30 centimeters, heavy approximately 7 kilograms, as soon as looks at likely an only turtle for the first time, but the body actually has both the alligator and dinosaur's characteristic.

　　After local fishery department's expert appraisal believed that this living thing is very possible is only produces in the Mississippi river coast area big alligator turtle (other name alligator armor turtle), possibly some people buy the big alligator turtle from the Americas country treat as pet raising, afterward abandoned it in the lake.

　　This is the big alligator turtle was discovered for the first time in the local waters. Because this living thing is not the local species, its appearance will possibly pose the threat to the Weishan lake ecological environment. Actually at present wasn't the expert still clear has how many big alligator turtle to set free a captured animal in the lake.

Page translated through babelfish:

Thanks noeyak!

the testudo elephantopus alligator

...

sweet turtle.  I love the expression of the guy who's holding it...

I caught one of them on a fishing line in NJ when I was a kid. It could snap half-inch twigs with one bite.

I caught one of them on a fishing line in NJ when I was a kid. It could snap half-inch twigs with one bite.

I grew up in Jersey too! My grandparents had a lake home in the Highland lakes, and there were big ass snapping turtles in there.

Rich (Newark born, raised in Rutherford)

A single 'gator snapper isn't going to harm a lake, but a dozen or so will.  Judging by the photos (using the fingers as a guide) I'd say that turtle is 10-15 years old - only 1/10th of its potential age, at most. 

As is the case throughout the US, it was likely someone's pet, until it got too big, and then dumped in the lake. Get at least a mated pair in a place, and you can end up with a problem.

It looks like one mean Chinese finger trap.

Growing up in MD, I sure do miss my swamps, I used to keep snappers that were close, but not over 12", so it would fit in my turtle pot, great meat, different color, taste and texture from the frontlegs and back, kind of weird. Thats an Alligator snapper from a bit more south, see his toungue/fish lure?- common snappers dont have that, and the back has 3 keels, the common has one. Theres a c.snapper in the lake at the exploritorium ive heard.... I think a few babies would love a lake full of zebra mussles....

There was a 52 pound Alligator Snapping Turtle recently caught here in Lake Wilson located in Wahiawa, Oahu.   There have been other sitings so people are concerned about this invasive species having a negative impact on the lake ecosystem.  This reservoir has great Peacock Bass fishing.  http://www.hawaiibassfishing.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=586&highlight=turtle

Wouldn't want to get bit by one of these guys when noodling! I'm not a noodler, wait, I am a noodle eater, asian ramen type noodle eater, you know what I mean.

@ 52LBS, I had have wonder who would be noodling who?

Looks just like the snapping turtles we used to catch in Maryland. That thing will snap a broom handle.

Check out the little lure on its tongue that it uses to attract fish.

Dang! Dustin!! That reminds me of my second grade teacher!!! 

WOW, Hojo, you had Mrs. Symington, too??? 

Ahnkochee, glad to see you posting here. Welcome!!