(Chelydra serpentina)
of Adult:
Song of the Snapping Turtle © Copyright Lang Elliott, NatureSound Studio www.naturesound.com
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| SINGING SNAPPING TURTLE (Chelydra serpentina) |
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| Range: | Southeastern Canada west to the Rocky Mountains, and south through Mexico to Ecuador. |
| Habitat: | The Common Snapping Turtle spend most of their time beneath the surface of any permanent body of water, whether shallow ponds, shallow lakes, or streams. Some may inhabit brackish environments, such as estuaries. |
| Diet: | Snapping turtles are omnivores, consuming both plant and animal matter, and are important aquatic scavengers; but they are also active hunters that prey on anything they can swallow, including many invertebrates, fish, frogs, reptiles (including snakes and smaller turtles), unwary birds and small mammals. |
| Approx. Dimensions of Adult: |
The carapace length in adulthood may be nearly 20 inches (though 8-14 inches, is more common), with C. serpentina and its subspecies commonly weighing up 10-35 lb. Exceptional individuals may reach 75 lbs. |
| Lifespan: | Common snappers have lived for up to 39 years in captivity, while the lifespan of wild individuals is estimated to be around 30 years. |
| Reproduction: | Snappers will also travel extensively overland to reach new habitat or to lay eggs. Pollution, habitat destruction, food scarcity, overcrowding and other factors will drive snappers to move overland; it is quite common to find them traveling far from the nearest water source. Snapping turtles mate from April through November, with their peak laying season in June and July. Common snappers have long tails with spiky protrusions, as well as long flexible necks which can reach one-half to two-thirds of the length of their shells, making handling dangerous. They cannot fully retract their head and appendages, relying on fierce displays when aggravated. Their snapping jaws and sharp claws are capable of inflicting serious injury up to and including amputation of digits./td> |
| Song of the Snapping Turtle © Copyright Lang Elliott, NatureSound Studio www.naturesound.com |
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