Snapping turtle is a group of freshwater turtles that live in the Americas. They have powerful jaws, long necks, and large heads. Unlike most turtles, snapping turtles have long tails and cross-shaped plastrons (belly plates). Snapping turtles may become aggressive when disturbed, twisting their flexible necks to bite with strong, beaklike jaws. The name snapping turtle can also refer to a group of turtles in Australia and New Guinea, but they are not closely related.
There are two main kinds of snapping turtle. Common snapping turtles can have shells nearing 20 inches (50 centimeters) long. Adults may weigh 75 pounds (34 kilograms) or more, but most weigh much less. These turtles live throughout eastern and central North America and as far south as Ecuador in South America.
The alligator snapping turtle ranks among the world’s largest and heaviest freshwater turtles. Males are generally larger than females and can weigh more than 200 pounds (91 kilograms), and their shells may reach 30 inches (76 centimeters) long. Some alligator snapping turtles live more than 70 years. They live in the south-central and southeastern United States.
Loading the player...Common snapping turtle
Snapping turtles eat both plants and animals. They eat a wide variety of foods, including fish, insects, mussels, nuts, seeds, snails, water plants, and worms. They also eat frogs, salamanders, small mammals, waterfowl, and other turtles.
