"America's Fragile Armor. Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)." 16" x 20" Limited Edition Print

America is home to an amazing array of turtles and tortoises. Like other species around the world, many of them are threatened and at risk of disappearing forever. This piece is the second in a series that focus intimately on these animals. 

The Story: It's hard not to be inspired by the sheer mass and prehistoric majesty of this beast of a turtle and it's truly one animal I have wanted to depict for a long time. More recently, I took the opportunity to visit the ever hospitable John Richards of Loggerhead Acres Turtle Farm in MO where he has lead efforts concerning responsible breeding and husbandry of this iconic species for over 20 years.  These massive ambush predators can grow to be 200lbs and have mastered their "hunting" technique through the evolution of a lure on the end of their tongue. Within their habitat of slow moving streams and rivers, these turtles feed primarily on fish like the brilliantly colored Long-eared Sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) who are drawn to the worm-like lure.

This Limited Edition Print is printed on 16" x 20" Innova Smooth Cotton Paper. The live area is a 1:1 print of an original oil painting created on panel.. Each print is inspected, signed, numbered and packed by the artist. This painting's edition is only 200 Limited Edition Prints and 20 Canvas Giclees.