Snapping Turtle (Chelydridae) - Animals - A-Z Animals - Animal Facts, Information, Pictures, Videos, Resources and Links

Snapping turtles enjoy a wide variety of food and are often considered the top predator in their environment. The alligator snapping turtle's diet consists mainly of fish, which they lure using a pink worm-like appendage on the end of their tongue. Common snapping turtles are more active hunters and will eat just about anything.

Snapping turtles do not make good pets, usually, as they will never stop growing. The largest snapping turtles on record have weight records of around 600 lbs. Alligator snapping turtles have been known to grow even larger.

The Snapping turtle's main defence mechanism is their powerful snapping jaws, which enable them to make short work of attackers and small prey. They also have monstrous, thick claws on their front and back legs which they use to tear apart food and to climb hills each year where they lay their eggs (in a similar way to sea turtles).

The alligator snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in North America, where it is generally found in the more southern waters of the United States. The smaller and more aggressive common snapping turtle inhabits lakes and streams from South America to Canada.

Snapping turtles spend nearly all of their lives in water, with typically only nesting females actually venturing onto open land. Snapping turtles can remain submerged underwater for up to three hours at a time.

Alligator snapping turtles and common snapping turtles have a very different looking appearances. The alligator snapping turtle has a long head and almost spiky shell, where the common snapping turtle has a more rounded head and a smoother shell. They are also easily distinguished by size as the common snapping turtle is smaller than the alligator snapping turtle.

Snapping turtle mating takes place once a year generally in the spring time. The female snapping turtle can lay anywhere from 10 to 50 eggs which take 3 or 4 months to hatch. It is thought that snapping turtles are capable of living until they are 150 years old but they typically live until they are between 20 and 50 years old in captivity.

Snapping Turtle Comments (21)

Knollwood

"Our backyard is the breeding ground for snapping turtles each Spring. We are visited for one of our son's birthday on June 1 each year. The turtles come out of the brook onto moist soil, lay there eyes and depart. It is amazing as we do not see them the rest of the year - only Spring. The little turtles hatch in time for school in the Fall. They quickly find their way back to the brook. "

Colleen

"Every year at least one turtle climbs the hill to lay eggs on our bank. And the very next day, the raccoon eats them."

Beth

"My friend and I were walking this morning and came upon a female laying her eggs! Very interesting! We will be checking in 3-4 months for tiny turtles! "

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Snapping Turtle Facts

Kingdom:

A level of classifying all living things on earth, as similar species are broken into 5 groups including plants, animals and fungi....

Animalia

Phylum:

A level of classifying animals within the animal kingdom. Phylum are further divided into subgroups called classes....

Chordata

Class:

A level of classifying animals in a phylum. Classes are then sub-divided into further groups known as orders....

Reptilia

Order:

A level used to classify animals. Classes are broken into sub-groups known as order, which are broken down further into families....

Testudines

Family:

A level of classifying animals within an order. Orders are broken down in families and families are broken down further into smaller groups called genus....

Chelydridae

Genus:

A level of classifying animals within a family. Families are divided into sub-groups called genus which generally contain one or two animal species....

Chelydra

Scientific Name:

Chelydridae

Type:

Reptile

Diet:

Omnivore

Size:

47-80cm (18.5-31in)

Weight:

16-136kg (35-300lbs)

Top Speed:

4km/h (2.4mph)

Life Span:

20-32 years

Lifestyle:

Solitary

Conservation Status:

The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species remaining extant either in the present day or the near future. Many factors are taken into account when assessing the conservation s...

Threatened

Colour:

Brown, Tan, Black

Skin Type:

Scales

Favourite Food:

Fish

Habitat:

The term habitat is used to describe a specific area where a particular animal lives, within an environment. Many animals have adapted to requiring specific conditions which can only be found in their natural habitat su...

Slow rivers, lakes and marshland

Average Litter Size:

Main Prey:

When an animal is referred to prey, it means that the animal is either hunted or caught for food. Animals that are referred to as prey are generally hunted by bigger animals, although there are a number of exceptions....

Fish, Birds, Frogs

Predators:

When an animal is referred to as a predator, it means that the animal either hunts or catches other animals. Predatory animals are generally dominant within their environment and will generally hunt animals smaller than...

Human, Raccoon, Alligator

Special Features:

Powerful legs and strong jaw

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