snapping turtle

Unlike other sea turtles, the common snapping turtle cannot fit its entire body into its shell.

Snapping turtles typically live to be 30-45 years old in the wild, and snapping turtles can live to be over a hundred years old! Their living area extends from southeastern Canada to the central and eastern United States, into Florida. Snapping turtle shells can grow up to 20 inches long. These turtles are omnivores, eating both animals and plants. Adult turtles are aggressive and have few natural predators.

5 Unbelievable Snapping Turtle Facts!

• Snapping turtles in captivity can live to be 50 years old.
• These turtles are nocturnal, so they hunt at night.
• The snapping turtle's mouth is shaped like a bird's hooked beak.
• These turtles live in lakes, ponds, canals and rivers.
• Most of the time, snapping turtles are solitary (半生).

scientific name

The snapping turtle has other names, including snapper and Tortuga Lagarto. In English, Tortuga Lagarto translates to Lizard Turtle. The scientific name of this turtle is Chelydra serpentine . While the first part of the name refers to its family, the Latin word "serpentine" refers to its viper or snake-like behavior. It can move its head and neck like a snake. It belongs to reptiles.

History and Evolution

The history of these members of the Chelydridae family goes back a long way! These reptiles are generally thought to have evolved 90 million years ago, and they walked around with the dinosaurs, making them one of the oldest types of sea turtles! Even they look prehistoric, especially snapping turtles!

Snappers ventured into Eurasia tens of millions of years ago and remained there until a few million years ago. They became extinct and disappeared everywhere except North America where we see them today. This ancient species has been through a lot, and a lot of change! They are even thought to be the predecessors of four-fifths of all turtles in existence.

Two Types of Snapping Turtles

There are two types of snapping turtles. One is a common snapping turtle and the other is a snapping turtle. The snapping turtle ( Macrochelys temminckii ) is also a member of the snapping turtle family.

• Common Snapping Turtle – Chelydra serpentine is the scientific name for the common snapping turtle.
• Alligator Snapping Turtle – Macrochelys temminckii is the scientific name for this turtle. They differ from common snappers in that they have a heavily ribbed shell with a beak-like mouth, and their primary location is in the freshwater that leads to the Gulf of Mexico.
• Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle – Macrochelys suwanniensis is a different species of snapping turtle that only lives in the Suwannee River basin.

appearance and behavior

These turtles have two black eyes and a hook-like mouth, as well as four feet and webbed feet. These turtles have five strong claws on each foot. This turtle's skin is covered with rough bumps called nodules.

The snapping turtle's shell, or carapace, can be dark brown or black. In both species of snapping turtles, the ridges on the snapping turtle's shell are more pronounced than those on the common snapping turtle. Although this turtle's shell can be up to 20 inches long, it is usually between 8 and 18 inches. If eight golf tees were connected end to end, they would be approximately the length of a snapping turtle shell. A snapping turtle's tail has ridges on its surface and is usually as long as its shell.

The average adult snapping turtle weighs between 10 and 35 pounds. Picture a medium-sized dog playing in your yard. A 35-pound snapping turtle weighs about the same as an adult spaniel. Plus, a 10-pound snapping turtle weighs about as much as an average-sized adult house cat. The largest snapping turtle ever recorded was the 249-pound snapping turtle. It weighs as much as two and a half toilet bowls!

The bottom of this turtle has a strong plate called the plastron. The pan is not large enough for the snapping turtle to fully retract into its shell. So disappearing into this turtle's shell (like other turtles) is not an option when predators come their way.

Conversely, if the turtle is in the water when a predator appears, it will swim away and hide near the bottom of a pond or river. But most of the time, this turtle is aggressive towards any predator, especially when it moves on land. They attack predators with claws, sharp hooked beaks, and powerful jaws.

It has a great range of neck and head movement and can move quickly to fight off threatening animals. The animal is definitely aggressive and is sometimes described as vicious when confronted by predators.

Of course, being able to move the head and neck with ease also helps this turtle catch prey.

These turtles are solitary except during mating season. The number of snapping turtles that live close to each other in a given area depends on the amount of food available there.

Habitat

These turtles have strong legs and webbed feet that make them excellent swimmers. When threatened, they may retreat to the muddy bottom of ponds or rivers. However, they are sometimes found basking on fallen logs in ponds or creeks.

diet

Predators and Threats

Reproduction, Babies and Longevity

population

These turtles live in North America. They are thought to number in the hundreds of thousands. However, the number of this turtle is dwindling. Populations of this sea turtle are at risk due to habitat loss, water pollution and human poaching.

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In rare cases, you should try to pick up a snapping turtle. But, if you do, move behind the turtle to the back third of its body. You can safely place your hands on the back of its shell and pick it up, keeping its head away from you all the time.

Do not try to grab the snapping turtle by its tail. This will do it a lot of damage. A snapping turtle sticks its head out and stretches its neck when you touch it. However, the creature cannot reach behind its body and bite your hand. Remember, snapping turtles are best viewed from a distance.