Reptile · GBIF taxon 2441905
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentinaAlso known as Eastern Snapping Turtle, Snapper
Common snapping turtles spend nearly all their lives submerged in muddy freshwater habitats, lying in ambush for passing prey. Females travel onto land during early summer to dig flask-shaped nests in sandy soil or gravel road shoulders. Despite their fearsome reputation on land, these ancient reptiles are timid in water and prefer to swim away quietly when disturbed.
AquaticReptileFreshwater
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Fish
- Aquatic Invertebrates
- Carrion
Predators
- Raccoons
- Striped Skunks
- Herons
ThreatsRoad mortality during nesting migrations, habitat loss, and illegal harvest
HabitatsPonds, lakes, slow-moving streams, marshes, and swamps
Life span30 to 50 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyChelydridae
- SpeciesChelydra serpentina
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Powerful jaws can deliver a severe bite on land; keep a safe distance and never handle by the tail.
- Why it is dangerous
- Extremely powerful jaws and sharp beaks cause deep flesh wounds or broken bones when defensive on land.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by a large dark shell with a saw-toothed rear edge, long spiked tail, and hooked beak.
- What to do
- Observe from several feet away; if moving one off a road, scoop it from behind using a snow shovel or floor mat.
Responsible observation
- Road Crossing: Transport turtles across roads in the direction they walk using a blanket or shovel.
- Water Viewing: Look for nostrils and eyes resting quietly just above the water surface in shallow coves.
- Safe Distance: Stay clear of the front half on land, as long necks reach surprisingly far back.
Frequent Companion MH Herpetology / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Competitor no rights reserved, uploaded by Glenn Berry · cc0
Close Relative (c) Tina Li, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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