Natural History: Chelydra serpentina

Known for their aggressive temperaments,Chelydra serpentina, or the common snapping turtle, is large and muscular, weighing between 10 to 35 pounds on average. The common snapping turtle has a dark brown or tan ridged carapace that is nearly 20 inches long. However, their plastron is extremely small; leaving most of their body unprotected since they cannot pull their head and legs into their shell. Common snapping turtles have a yellowish body that is extremely rough from tubercles, or bumps. Their extremely long tail (about the same length as their shell) has sharp ridges running along its length. They have webbed feet, which is great for its aquatic life style.

Snapping turtles are very pervasive in the United States and can generally be found anywhere except for the West Coast. They typically live in freshwater ponds and streams where they bury themselves under mud, leaving only their eyes and nostrils uncovered; however, they have been found in brackish waters as well.

Snapping turtles generally eat whatever they can get their powerful beak-like jaws around. They eat plants and animals including, but not limited to fish, frogs, birds, small mammals, and even other reptiles. Snapping turtles have a small growth on their tongue that resembles a worm. In order to capture prey, they will open their mouth to display the worm, luring prey in.

If snapping turtles are encountered in the water, they often will swim away. However, out of water they are very fierce. They will first hiss in order to scare the predator and if that does not work, they will bite. However, adults generally do not have many predators like the juveniles and eggs do.

When mating season comes around, turtles will communicate via leg movements while facing one another. Females then travel great distances in order to lay eggs in the sand. Snapping turtles lay 25 to 80 eggs annually and have the ability to store sperm for several years.

Snapping turtles are not social creatures. Although many tend to live in a small area, their interactions are limited to aggression between males generally.