American Snapping Turtle (Chelydra Serpentina)
Conservation status
IUCN: Red List: Least Concern
Key Descriptions
The American Snapping Turtle or Common Snapping turtle are highly aggressive reptiles most noted for its combative disposition with its razor sharp beak – like jaws which it uses to tear the flesh off its prey in conjunction with its highly mobile serpentine like head. They are native to North America and live in lakes & streams where there are abundant amounts of fish for it to hunt.
Habitat
These snappers commonly inhabit large bodies of fresh water including lakes & rivers but have also been observed in slow moving water such as small streams or ponds where a muddy riverbed & abundance of aquatic vegetation provide the ideal environment for them to thrive.
Social Life
American snapping turtles are opportunistic feeders that spend most of their time in water feeding on anything unfortunate that crosses its serpentine path, making them usually solitary animals. They are diurnal reptiles who are most active at dawn & dusk, lurking on the dark muddy river beds where they are able to stalk their prey as well as limit themselves to predation from above. When basking, these turtles rarely come onto land to bask but rather float on the water’s surface with merely its snout and carapace exposed in order to soak in the suns ray for its UVB needs.
Fun Facts
- Snapping turtles in North America are really anti-social creatures that usually stay underwater for most of their lives. They also keep their safe distance from humans and are known to attack humans if they try to touch them.
- They have powerful jaws and have an average bite force of 209 N. They may not have the same force that you do when you bite with your molars (1300 N) but they have enough force to do some real damage.
- The Central American snapping turtle hunts by luring its prey with four to six barbels around the mouth
Diet
Fish & other small aquatic animals
Key Information
| Origin: | North America |
| Size: | 20cm — 30cm |
| Weight: | Up to 16kg |
| Lifespan: | 40-55years |