Snapping alligator turtle found on Russian river

Bowser, I don't think you're in Kansas any more. 

An American snapping alligator turtle that resembles Mario's fire-breathing nemesis more than a real-life animal has randomly shown up in far eastern Russia.  

Found by a local fisherman on the banks of the Amur river, the turtle was a long way from its home in the Deep South states of Texas, Kansas, Louisiana and Florida.

The sight of the bizarre-looking creature came as quite a shock to locals like Anastasia Steshina who took to social media to share the discovery.

"When we saw it, we did not even realize that it was a turtle. It reminded us of a dinosaur," she said. "It was biting through sticks with its jaws and tried to attack us."

Image: Anastasia Steshina

Its exotic characteristics, including prehistoric spines and a sharp beak, made it an instant viral hit.

"When we saw it, we did not even realize that it was a turtle. It reminded us of a dinosaur," Steshina added.

While it has not been determined how the creature managed to travel so far, locals reckon it may have escaped a Chinese breeder further up the river, across the border.