The Alligator Snapping Turtle, macrochelys temminckii, is found along the Gulf States from Florida to Texas. They live in larger bodies of water such as the Mississippi River
and prefer marsh or swamp areas. Biologists wanted to study the ages of these turtles
living along the Mississippi River in Louisiana. They sent teams out to catch all of the
turtles along several 10 mile stretches from Vidalia to New Orleans within a single day.