Common Snapping Turtle

On April 23, out class went to Bachelor Pond to check out our turtle traps. The weather was gorgeous. It was about 65-75 degrees F and there were lots of painted turtles basking on the various logs out in the middle of the pond. The pond was covered with a lot of algae and pretty muddy. In the first trap we found a Common Snapping Turtle(Chelydra serpentina). It was small one in comparison to how large they get. They are the largests freshwater turtle in the US and they can reach up to 70lbs. They have very powerful jaws with a strong hook like beak on the top part of their mouths. They are known for striking like snakes when in danger and don't usually hide inside their shell like other turtles.There skin is usually grey in color and they have a very distinct reduced plastron and the carpace is darker than the rest of the the turtle. The carpace is also keeled and rough but the keels go away as they mature. The tails of snapping turtles also have rough edges resembling saw tooths. Females can lay up two dozen eggs some distance from the water in sandy areas. They mate from April to November. Females are capable of storing sperm for many different breeding seasons and use it as necessary.

Miami University
Ryan De Leon