Turtle-y delicious! Hungry alligator gulps down two whole reptiles in one go

  • WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT 

By JAY AKBAR FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

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Gruesome photos have captured the moment an alligator feasts on a lunch of turtle and snake.

Nature photographer Gary Meyers was taking pictures of nesting birds in Jefferson Island, Louisiana, when the hungry reptile caught his attention.

In a series of extraordinary - and graphic - photos, the beast crushes the turtle's shell with his teeth and wolfs its bloody carcass down its throat.

Louisiana has the highest alligator population in the United States, around two million, according to the state's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

They can be found in the ponds, lakes, canals, bayous and swamps of Louisiana, where their habitat sprawls across 4.5million acres. 

Males grow to around 13ft long and 500lb, and adults' diets consist of beavers, raccoons, large birds, snakes, turtles and even deer. 

Crunch: A gruesome series of photographers taken by nature photographer Gary Meyers showed an alligator feasting on a turtle (pictured) and snake

Crunch: A gruesome series of photographers taken by nature photographer Gary Meyers showed an alligator feasting on a turtle (pictured) and snake

Main course: Once the giant reptile had finished the starter of alligator, he moved onto snake (pictured)

Main course: Once the giant reptile had finished the starter of alligator, he moved onto snake (pictured)

Cracked open: Once it had caught the turtle, the alligator crushed its hard shell with its powerful jaws

Cracked open: Once it had caught the turtle, the alligator crushed its hard shell with its powerful jaws

Feast: Gruesome photos showed the turtle's blood oozing from the alligator's mouth in a grassy area of Jefferson Island, Louisiana

Feast: Gruesome photos showed the turtle's blood oozing from the alligator's mouth in a grassy area of Jefferson Island, Louisiana

Gruesome: Alligators in Louisiana have a diet of beavers, raccoons, large birds, snakes, turtles (pictured) and even deer

Gruesome: Alligators in Louisiana have a diet of beavers, raccoons, large birds, snakes, turtles (pictured) and even deer

Sprawling: Louisiana, where this alligator was pictured feasting on a turtle (pictured), has the highest alligator population in the United States, around two million

Sprawling: Louisiana, where this alligator was pictured feasting on a turtle (pictured), has the highest alligator population in the United States, around two million

Lunchtime: Once the alligator had chewed the turtle into small pieces, he forced it down it's throat in one go

Lunchtime: Once the alligator had chewed the turtle into small pieces, he forced it down it's throat in one go

Hidden in plain sight: Alligators can be found in the ponds, lakes, canals, bayous and swamps of Louisiana, where their habitat sprawls across 4.5million acres

Hidden in plain sight: Alligators can be found in the ponds, lakes, canals, bayous and swamps of Louisiana, where their habitat sprawls across 4.5million acres

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