Catfish angler catches 'dinosaur' turtle weighing 100LBS - PHOTO

Oklahoma angler Dave Harrell was hoping to catch some catfish in Eufaula Lake Monday - but instead he nabbed a prehistoric-looking turtle likely tipping the scales at 100lbs.  Harrell released his massive catch, which turned out to be a rare alligator snapping turtle, but not before posing for a selfie that has gone viral.The snapshot showing a bare-chested Mr Harrell struggling to hold onto to the bulky reptile with its maw agape has been shared more than 10,000 times on ‎Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Facebook page.In a post that accompanied the jaw-dropping picture, Mr Harrell explained that he and a friend, Audey Clark, were catfishing in Mill Creek at Eufaula Lake when they came upon something really big.Harrell caught the alligator snapping turtle on a rod and reeled it in while his companion secured the mammoth beast and hauled it onto their boat for a photo-op. The turtle was then released into the water unharmed. Experts say that it is a common misconception that alligator snapping turtles are widespread in Oklahoma. The vulnerable species has been at the center of a reintroduction program in the state in recent years. Barry Downer, curator of herpetology and aquatics for the Tulsa Zoo, told Tulsa World that based on Harrell's picture and his personal experience with alligator snapping turtles, the angler's specimen probably weighed around 100lbs. He added that the largest alligator snapper - also known by the name 'loggerhead' - he has ever seen tipped the scales at 205lbs. Common snapping turtles are much smaller than alligator snappers, weighing only about 35-50lbs. Their much larger relatives also are distinguished by their bulbous head and short neck.According to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park fact sheet, the turtles are characterized by three large ridges, or keels, that run from the front to the back of the shell. They are unique among snapping turtles for having eyes on the side of the head. The critters that have been around for some 20million years weigh between 155 and 175lbs, but the Bronx Zoo’s website states that a snapper can reach 250lbs. The animals are carnivorous, feeding on snakes, frogs, any kind of fish and even other turtles. Alligator snapping turtles are confined to the river systems that drain into the Gulf of Mexico. They spend most of their lives submerged in the deep waters of large rivers, canals, lakes, and swamps. While not facing extinction, the alligator snapping turtle is classified as a vulnerable species because the reptiles have been heavily trapped for meat, and pesticide use also presents a serious threat to them.(dailymail.co.uk)Bakudaily.az