Comments on: Beast of Busco Discovered?

By: Chelydra

Chelydra — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 23:07:33 +0000

The photos of the shells both show a common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
However, the size mentioned (1 yard, i.e. ~90cm straight carapace length) seem a little bit overestimated. The largest snapping turtle on record reach ~50cm SCL. I did a scientific research and publication about this a few years ago. The specimen in the 2nd picture, if compared to the decoration items (bottles etc.) is no way near this size, maybe at 30-40cm SCL. The “Beast of Bosco” is an old mature specimen but 90cm would be a record-record. Maybe someone can measure this shell exactly?

Regards

Torsten Blanck
Member of the IUCN Freshwater turtle and tortoise Specialist Group

By: sloon

sloon — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 04:21:45 +0000

Very interesting Loren. Finding the absolute largest specimen of a Macroclemys teminickii (alligator snapping turtle), is always an issue of dispute. There was an old issue of National Geographic in January 1986 that has the record holder, a specimen at the zoo in Chicago Brookfield Zoo weighed in at 250 lbs. Given the variety of habitats, (a new recognized species in Ontario discovered in a few small ponds near Glencoe, Ontario in 2007), and if conditions are favourable could achieve a very large size. These animals are a good example of something that is hard to find; they very rarely leave the water, and seldom have the heads out of the water, breathing through their long nostrils. Some turtle books consider the alligator snapping turtle the heaviest turtle in the world, but not the largest in shell size.

By: hoosierhunter2

hoosierhunter2 — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 04:04:18 +0000

I’ve lived in Indiana all my life and have heard several times of the Beast of Busco. I’ve heard that the shell was anywhere from 5 to 10 feet across. Never have met anyone who actually saw it or knew anyone who had, though. I believe they tried to drain the lake at one time to find it.

By: red_pill_junkie

red_pill_junkie — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 01:05:15 +0000

The name of this town does not make me happy

By: Redrose999

Redrose999 — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 23:14:52 +0000

Dang cool Loren, thanks for keeping us updated. My turtle loving son is thrilled with all this.

By: Marc Gaglione via Facebook

Marc Gaglione via Facebook — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:59:11 +0000

A friend of mine claims he saw a turtle the size of a table in the lake I live by. I saw what looked like a large flipper come out of the water once. Our lake looks like chocolate milk with zero visibilty, so who knows what’s swimming around.

By: flame821

flame821 — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:13:55 +0000

Thank heavens someone else mentioned the head too. At first I thought it was just me or else a bad snapshot.

And why put a pike on a snapper’s body? Snappers look plenty vicious enough without all the teeth.

By: bigfoots

bigfoots — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:43:33 +0000

yeah…its not even a turtle head.. the head is from a northern pike…
would of thought loren would know that??

By: Cass_of_MPLS

Cass_of_MPLS — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:28:06 +0000

Which town will win? Whichever town whose beast has the highest Belt in Ninjitsu one assumes.

By: Peltboy25

Peltboy25 — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:21:21 +0000

The head is indeed a northern pike or musky. But if that shell is real, it’s VERY large for a common snapper. It’s clearly not an alligator snapper shell as the tell-tale ridges are missing. A common snapper shell measuring 36″ is unheard of. Worthy of note.