Experts doubt record-breaking turtle claim

OKLAHOMA CITY, July 20 (UPI) -- A man who captured a 103-pound turtle argues the animal is of record-breaking size, but experts say they doubt his claim is warranted.

Jim McKnight was fishing for bass in southeast Oklahoma when he hooked the large turtle, The Oklahoman reported Thursday.

McKnight has gotten in touch with members of the media on several occasions and provided photos of the turtle to prove it is a record-breaker, the newspaper said.

McKnight told reporters a local game warden said it is a typical snapping turtle that weighs 35 pounds more than any other snapping turtle of its kind on record.

Wildlife diversity biologist Mark Howery has seen pictures of the animal and insists it is not a regular snapping turtle, but an alligator snapping turtle instead, which can often weigh much more than 103 pounds.

"This has to be an alligator snapping turtle just looking at it. It's not a record alligator snapping turtle, but it's still unusual ... we don't get very many reports of alligator snapping turtles," Howery said.