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Common snapping turtle

Chelydra serpentina

Description:

Razor like pattern on the back of the shell and a really long tail. Looks almost prehistoric.

Habitat:

Wetlands

1 Species ID Suggestions

Common snapping turtle
Chelydra serpentina Common snapping turtle


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8 Comments

KarenL
KarenL 11 years ago

Amazing - really prehistoric looking!

isabellasmurf
isabellasmurf 11 years ago

Very nice Peter!

freelancing
freelancing 11 years ago

I once saw a very large specimen being shown off on a late night talk show by a zoo representative. The host asked how old the turtle was due to the size and they did not know. They said they had found in the wild very large specimens that had bullets in their shells dating from the Civil War - so it would appear they can live at least 150 years.

NeilDazet
NeilDazet 11 years ago

Just saw these pictures Peter. Nice! Snapping turtles will raise up on their hind legs like that if they feel like they might be in danger. They do this so that they appear larger than they really are to whatever is threatening them. All of the spikes and armor definitely make it look like some of the dinosaurs!

emj.patterson
emj.patterson 12 years ago

Very cool pictures! Definitely neat to see one out of the water.

NicoleB
NicoleB 12 years ago

Amazing creature and it's strange to see it out of the water, have seen them (on photos) so far only in the water, wow!
Those are the ones that actually snap at you when you get too close, no?

peter
peter 12 years ago

Thanks Clement!

peter
peter 12 years ago

Hope one of our herpetologists can help me ID this

peter
Spotted by
peter

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Spotted on May 7, 2011
Submitted on May 7, 2011

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