The alligator snapping turtle is the heaviest freshwater turtle in the world.But, the said turtle is in danger of disappearing from the planet after the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service said that three amphibian species, and seven reptiles, including the hard-biting, spiky shelled alligator snapping turtle are in dire need federal protection.

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Last Tuesday, The USFWS said that they will carry out further studies on the aforesaid species before they can decide whether the said creatures merit classification as endangered or threatened.

Among those species the agency said warrant observation are the spotted turtles that were once found across the Easter Seaboard from Maine to Florida, and green salamanders, tree-climbing species that once inhabited 13 Appalachian states, ABC News reports.

Several species of snakes, lizards, and a frog are also on the list for the 12-month study.

Jacklyn Lopez, director of the Florida office of the Center for Biological Diversity, said Wednesday, "This is an excellent chance of survival. They are some prehistoric-looking creatures."

Alligator snapping turtles were once found from Illinois and Indiana to Florida, Texas and Kansas. However, in recent surveys, it was found that alligator snapping turtles have been probably wiped out in Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee, with numbers going down as much as 95 percent over much of their historic range habitat loss and over harvesting.

Louisiana, the last state to protect the turtles, is now being forbidden from carrying out any commercial hunting. In 2004, Louisiana restaurants were scrutinized for capturing wild turtles for soup.

According to National Geographic, this prehistoric-looking alligator snapping turtle is often referred to as the "Dinosaur of the turtle world" because of its spiked shell, beak line jaws and thick, scaled tail.

This turtle has no natural predators except for humans, who sell their meat and shells in the exotic animal trade.

Due to its severe reduction in population because of unregulated harvesting and habitat loss, the said states are moving to protect the turtles in their territories.

The typical lifespan of the alligator snapping turtle reaches 11 to 13 years for its reproductive maturity. The typical longevity according to National Wildlife Federation is between 11 and 45 years, but captive alligator snapping turtles have lived to 70 years of age.

Meanwhile, the Daily Caller reported that the golden-cheeked warbler is being petitioned to be removed from the list of creatures under federal protection. Experts say the bird's population is so large and its habitat is so extensive that the species does not merit protection. 

TagsAlligator Snapping Turtle, endangered species, extinction