Which turtle lures prey with a worm-like appendage on its tongue?

The alligator snapping turtle lures prey with a worm-like appendage on its tongue.

This unusual structure is a vermiform, or worm-shaped, tongue appendage used in aggressive mimicry. The turtle waits motionless underwater with its jaws open, wriggles the appendage, and attracts curious fish close enough for an extremely rapid bite. The dark interior of its mouth helps conceal the trap.

The behavior is especially developed in young alligator snapping turtles, which often target small fish drawn to the moving lure. Adults are opportunistic predators and scavengers that may eat fish, turtles, amphibians, mollusks, carrion, and other animals. The tongue lure is only one part of a broader feeding strategy.

The alligator snapping turtle is often confused with the common snapping turtle because both belong to the family Chelydridae. The alligator snapper is generally larger, has three prominent ridges on its shell, and is primarily aquatic. It is native to freshwater habitats in the southeastern United States and is the largest freshwater turtle in North America.