Common Snapping Turtle

Description:

Female Common Snapping Turtle laying eggs. Common Snapping turtle has a rugged, muscular build with a ridged carapace, although ridges are more pronounced in younger ones.. The carapace length in adulthood may be nearly 20 inches. They have powerful jaws and though they look slow they have quick reflexes.

Habitat:

Laying eggs on land, these turtles spend most of its time in water, feeding on almost anything it can such as plants, fish, amphibians, birds, other reptiles and mammals.

Notes:

This is an invasive species to California. Most likely a released pet from many years ago. Another one was caught near here a year ago by animal control.