Bob called the Denver Zoo home for 27 years. 

He first arrived at Denver Zoo in 1992, and today, zoo officials and fans are saying goodbye to the beloved turtle. 

"We’re sad to announce the passing of Bob, alligator snapping turtle and famous Tropical Discovery resident. Rescued from the wild, Bob lived at Denver Zoo for more than 27 years, and will be deeply missed by Zoo staff, volunteers, and guests," the zoo said in a statement on Facebook. 

According to the zoo, Bob was one of the first reptiles to make the Tropical Discovery habitat a home. He came to the Denver Zoo in 1992 from the Houston Zoo, where he had been rehabilitated after fishermen found him in a saltwater bay (which is not a suitable habitat for his species).

He arrived weighing 100 pounds, and the message "Hi, I'm Bob," written on his crate, and the rest is history. 

Bob, who eventually grew to a whopping 175 pounds, loved to fool guests by remaining motionless at the bottom of his tank, a natural behavior related to finding food called luring. But, just when you thought he might be a fake, he'd prove you wrong.

"Bob spent a lot of time motionless (which is normal for the species) at the bottom of his tank, prompting many guests to ask us if he was even real! Bob didn’t need to do much luring at Denver Zoo, but he would surprise guests by going from slothful to stirring in a matter of seconds at feeding time," the zoo said in a statement. 

While his age isn't certain, it is believed that he was well over a half-century old at the time of his passing.

"Since Bob came from the wild, Tropical Discovery keepers could only estimate his age, but based on his size when he arrived in 1992, they believe he was more than 60 years old. He was a beloved founding member of Tropical Discovery, and will be missed by staff, volunteers and guests alike," the zoo related. 

Was Bob a favorite animal at the Denver Zoo for you? Let us know in the comments below.