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 turtles live in North America, Central America, and South America, from southern Canada to Ecuador.
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.
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.
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.
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Snapping turtles are large, unfriendly turtles that have strong, clawed legs; a powerful bite; and a long neck. With its long neck, the snapping turtle can quickly swing its large head far forward as well as sideways and back over the upper shell. These turtles also have a long, strong tail with a row of ridges. The upper shell, or carapace (KARE-a-pays), has three keels, or ridges, but older turt…
Most people know snapping turtles for their unfriendly personality. The turtles can quickly strike out with their long necks and powerful jaws and snap at any passing animals, whether it is a fish or other prey they want to eat or a person who comes too close. Instead of teeth, they have a hook at the front of the upper jaw that helps in grasping and then tearing apart prey. Snapping turtles occas…
Although snapping turtles are not especially friendly, they are of little threat to humans who do not bother them. Humans hunt the turtles for food and occasionally for the pet trade. …
Physical characteristics: The snapping turtle, or snapper, is a fairly large member of this family. The upper shell is up to 19.3 inches (49 centimeters) in length. The shell is dark, usually black to greenish-brown, and frequently covered with green, slimy algae (AL-jee), or plantlike growths. The upper shell and the long tail have a series of ridges. The shell ridges become less and less noticea…
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