Snapping Turtle | Reptile - Encyclopedia Britannica

Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos snapping turtle Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics Images & Videos Quizzes Animal Group Names Deadliest Animals Quiz Wild Words from the Animal Kingdom Vocabulary Quiz Match the Baby Animal to Its Mama Quiz Animal Factoids Contents Science Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates Reptiles CITE verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/animal/snapping-turtle Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

• Montana Field Guide - Snapping Turtle
• Dr. Jungles' Coral Reef Animals of The World - Snapping Turtles
• Boreal Forest.org - Snapping Turtle
• Reptiles and Amphibians of Minnesta - Snapping Turtle - Chelydra serpentina
• New Hampshire Fish and Game Department - Snapping Turtle
• World Chelonian Trust - Snapping Turtles

snapping turtle reptile Ask Anything Homework Help Also known as: Chelydridae Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors History Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything

snapping turtle, either of several species of freshwater turtles (family Chelydridae) named for their method of biting. Snapping turtles are found continuously in North America from eastern Canada and New England to the Rockies, and they are also found in pockets from Mexico and Central America to Ecuador. Snapping turtles are noted for their large size and aggressive nature. They are tan to black in colour and have a rough upper shell, a small cross-shaped lower shell, a long tail, and a large head with hooked jaws. The female in both species lays clutches of 20 to 40 eggs; the young at hatching have shells about 2.5–4 cm (1–1.5 inches) long. Snapping turtles have long been valued as food.

The distribution of the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) is widespread from Canada to the west coast of northern South America. C. serpentina serpentina is the subspecies found throughout southern and eastern Canada and in the eastern half of the United States. It is distinguished by a saw-edged crest on the upper side of its tail and averages 20–30 cm (8–12 inches) in shell length and 4.5–16 kg (10–35 pounds) in weight. When young it has three longitudinal ridges on the upper shell; these become worn down with time. The common snapping turtle is often found buried in mud in shallow water. It is omnivorous, although it prefers animal prey. It is usually unaggressive in the water; however, it may lunge and snap while on land. Three other snapping turtle subspecies—C. serpentina osceola of Florida, C. serpentina rossignoni of Central America, and C. serpentina acutirostris of Ecuador—are also recognized. The latter two are generally smaller than C. serpentina serpentina.

Related Topics: alligator snapping turtle turtle soup common snapping turtle (Show more) See all related content

The alligator snapping turtle, Macrochelys temminckii, is the largest freshwater turtle in the United States. It is found primarily in southern and central regions; however, non-native populations are found in various other states and in South Africa, where it is considered an invasive species. The alligator snapping turtle is a sedentary turtle with three prominent longitudinal ridges on the upper shell. Shell length is about 40–70 cm (16–28 inches); weight ranges from about 18 to 70 kg (40 to 155 pounds) with a record of about 100 kg. The alligator snapping turtle has a wormlike appendage on the floor of its mouth. It often lies quietly on the bottom, mouth open, and lures fishes within reach by means of this structure. It also eats plants. Fossil snapping turtles have been found in Miocene deposits in Europe and North America.

Britannica Quiz Match the Baby Animal to Its Mama Quiz The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.