Other Free Encyclopedias :: Animal Life Resource :: Snakes, Crocodiles, Dinosaurs, and Other Reptiles - Vol 1

Snapping Turtles: Chelydridae - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Snapping Turtles And People, Snapping Turtle (chelydra Serpentina): Species Account - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, CONSERVATION STATUS

SNAPPING TURTLE (Chelydra serpentina): SPECIES ACCOUNT

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

Snapping turtles live in North America, Central America, and South America, from southern Canada to Ecuador.

HABITAT

These turtles mainly live in permanent water bodies, ones that are filled with water all year long. Some are able to survive in somewhat salty waters, but they typically prefer freshwater. Although they spend the majority of their time in the water, they will travel quite a distance over land to nest, and one species makes overland trips from one watering hole to another.

DIET

Snapping turtles are primarily meat eaters, dining on almost anything they can find, whether it is alive or dead. The diet includes worms, insects, snails, and larger items, such as other turtles, ducklings, and small mammals. Although it is not common, some turtles can live on an all-plant diet.

CONSERVATION STATUS

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) lists the alligator snapping turtle as Vulnerable, which means that there is a high threat of their extinction: they could die out entirely. There are many sources for these threats, including too much hunting of them and the loss of good habitat.