A video of a plump snapping turtle relaxing in a Chicago waterway has gone viral after the man who filmed it marveled at its size and called it "Chonkosaurus."
A large snapping turtle was spotted atop a chain draped over rotting logs by Joey Santore while kayaking on the Chicago River last weekend.
“Look at this guy. This is one of the most beautiful sights we have ever seen. You should see the size of that thing," he says, using an expletive. “Look at that beast. Hey, how ya doing guy? You look good. You're healthy.”
The snapping turtle Santore filmed is quite rare, according to Chris Anchor, the chief wildlife biologist for Forest Preserves of Cook County. According to him, it's also unusual for reptiles to bask along rivers, but it probably emerged from hibernation recently.