Editing Alligator snapping turtle (section)

==Distribution and habitat==
The alligator snapping turtle is found primarily in freshwaters of the southeastern United States. It is found from the [[Florida Panhandle]] west to [[East Texas]], north to southeastern [[Kansas]], [[Missouri]], southeastern [[Iowa]], western [[Illinois]], southern [[Indiana]], west [[Michigan]] western [[Kentucky]], [[Louisiana]], and western [[Tennessee]].<ref name="ConantandCollins1991"/> ''Macrochelys temminckii'' often utilize core sites, characterized by specific microhabitat features such as an abundance of structural cover such as cut banks, root balls, and submerged trees and dense canopy cover.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Adams |first=Connor S. |last2=Gartenstein |first2=Sophia |last3=Pierce |first3=Josh B. |last4=Glasscock |first4=Jessica L. |last5=Schalk |first5=Christopher M. |date=2024-06-01 |title=MOVEMENT PATTERNS, HOME RANGE, AND MICROHABITAT USE OF ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLES ( MACROCHELYS TEMMINCKII ) IN A SMALL EAST TEXAS STREAM SYSTEM |url=https://meridian.allenpress.com/tjs/article/76/1/Article%201/501092/MOVEMENT-PATTERNS-HOME-RANGE-AND-MICROHABITAT-USE |journal=The Texas Journal of Science |language=en |volume=76 |issue=1 |doi=10.32011/txjsci_76_1_Article1 |issn=0040-4403|doi-access=free }}</ref> Typically, only nesting females venture onto open land.{{citation needed|date=January 2011}}

They are generally found only in bodies of water that flow into the Gulf of Mexico and usually do not occur in isolated wetlands or ponds.  A study found that the turtles prefer places with canopy cover, overhanging trees, shrubs, dead submerged trees, and beaver dens.<ref name="Riedle2006"/> This species utilizes core sites within these habitats, and females tend to have larger movement patterns than males.<ref name="Riedle2006"/> The average home range for an individual is {{convert|750|m|abbr=on}}. Females have larger home ranges than males.<ref name="Riedle2006"/>