Chelydra serpentina (Common Snapping Turtle)

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Chelydra serpentina, commonly known as the common snapping turtle, is a large freshwater turtle native to North America. This species is known for its powerful jaws and aggressive behavior when out of the water, although it prefers to avoid confrontation in its natural habitat.

Scientific Classification

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Reptilia
  • Order: Testudines
  • Family: Chelydridae
  • Genus: Chelydra
  • Species: C. serpentina

Common Names

  • Common Snapping Turtle

Identification

Description

The common snapping turtle has a rugged appearance with a dark brown to black shell that features serrations along the tail. Its large head is equipped with strong, hooked jaws, and it has a long tail with saw-like ridges.

Sexual Dimorphism

Males tend to have longer tails than females, and their cloaca extends past the edge of the shell. Females are typically smaller than males in overall body size.

Native Origin and Distribution

Geographical Range

Chelydra serpentina is native to North America, ranging from southeastern Canada through the eastern and central United States to the Gulf of Mexico. It can also be found in parts of Central America.

Preferred Habitat

Snapping turtles prefer slow-moving freshwater environments such as ponds, lakes, rivers, and marshes. They can also tolerate brackish waters and often bury themselves in mud or shallow waters.

Behavior

Feeding Habits

Common snapping turtles are opportunistic omnivores, feeding on a variety of aquatic plants, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, and even carrion. They are known for their ambush hunting style, lying motionless at the bottom and striking swiftly.

Predators

Adult snapping turtles have few natural predators due to their size and strength, but eggs and juveniles are vulnerable to predation from raccoons, foxes, and birds of prey.

Reproduction

Breeding Season

The breeding season typically occurs from late spring to early summer, with females laying eggs from May to June.

Reproductive Method

Females lay between 20 to 40 eggs in a dug-out nest on land, usually near water. The eggs hatch in late summer or early fall, with temperature determining the sex of the hatchlings.

Conservation

Extinction Status

The common snapping turtle is currently classified as “Least Concern” by the IUCN, meaning it is not facing an immediate threat of extinction.

Threats

Threats include habitat destruction, pollution, and road mortality, especially during the nesting season. Overharvesting for meat and the pet trade in some regions also poses risks.

Conservation Measures

Conservation efforts include habitat protection, road crossing awareness campaigns, and regulating hunting and trapping practices in areas where they are at risk.

Economic Importance

The snapping turtle has been historically harvested for its meat, particularly for use in turtle soup. It also plays a crucial role in its ecosystem by controlling populations of prey species and scavenging dead animals, contributing to environmental health.

Interesting Facts

  • Snapping turtles can live up to 30 to 40 years in the wild.
  • Despite their aggressive nature on land, they are generally docile in the water.
  • They have incredibly strong jaws, capable of delivering a painful bite, though they rarely attack humans unprovoked.

About Author

Muntaseer Rahman started keeping pet turtles back in 2013. He also owns the largest Turtle & Tortoise Facebook community in Bangladesh. These days he is mostly active on Facebook.