Category Archives: Types of Turtles

The Snapping Turtle

The snapping turtle is a North American turtle. There are two distinct species of snapping turtle. The uniqueness of the common snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina, is often overlooked simply due to how plentiful the snapping turtle is. With its huge head, ungainly build, outsized tail, and vicious disposition, it presents a memorable picture when found on land. The snapping turtle is a thoroughly aquatic animal, seldom voluntarily leaving the water except to lay its eggs. The eggs are round in shape and have been likened to ping-pong balls. Snapping turtle eggs normally require about three months to hatch, but there have been cases in which the babies have spent the winter within their eggs and emerged during the spring. Baby snapping turtles measure a little over an inch in shell length and adapt themselves readily to an aquarium arrangement with a few inches of water and a couple of rocks. The snapper is neither a swift nor graceful swimmer. The snapping turtle is primarily a bottom-walking species and will make use of the rocks to protrude its head occasionally to obtain air and survey its surroundings. Snapping turtles survive on a diet primarily made up of fish and whatever meat they can find. In captivity as long as the snapping kept on a well-balanced diet, the snapper does not require sunlight or even lighting. Fairly cool water, 65 to 70 degrees, seems to suit it best; it is one of the hardiest turtles in captivity.

The alligator snapping turtle, Macrochelys lemmincki, is one of the largest fresh-water turtles in existence. A fully grown specimen may have a shell length of over two feet and reach a weight in excess of 200 pounds.

In the wild, snapping turtles are found from southern Canada to Florida and the alligator snapping turtle can be found in the souther United States. The alligator snapping turtle can also now be found in parts of Europe and China due to the pet trade and irresponsible owners letting then loose in the wild.

Both the common and the alligator snappers are ready biters when out of water and are able to inflict considerable damage with their strong jaws. The alligator snapper is not as agile as the common snapper and despite its greater size it is no where near as aggressive and its smaller cousin. Either species may be safely handled by its long tail, held well away from one’s body. No very large snapper should be lifted by the tail though as lifting them by the tail is likely to break the vertebrae in the tail and can actually lead to death.

A Snapping Turtle should be kept alone

Large snapping turtles of either species are very predaceous creatures, and no other animal is safe in an enclosure with them. Both kinds of snappers become quite tame in an aquarium and will grow rapidly if cared for properly. Whole or chopped raw fish with bones included is the best food for the alligator snapper; the shell quickly softens if the animal does not receive an adequate intake of calcium. Though shy by nature, alligator snappers in aquariums will learn to compete with other turtles for any bits of food offered. The ideal arrangement for a snapper is, however, an aquarium or outdoor pool of its own. The two species of snapping turtles resemble each other in appearance, but each is quite distinct and there is no interbreeding in areas where their ranges overlap.

Some Turtle Facts

Turtles have been on the earth for thousands of years and their fossils date back to the Traissic period in the beginning of the age of dinosaurs about 200 million years ago. They appeared almost as we know them today at least 150 million years back and have stayed comparatively unchanged down thru the ages.

Turtles vary in size from small ones weighing less than a pound to the giant leatherback sea turtles which can weigh over 2000 pounds.

Some turtles are called tortoises which are characterized by their elephant-like feet and heavy claws. These feet fully lack the webbing of the aquatic variations. Tortoises are quite helpless in water and would really drown if left in deep water for any time period. Other turtles like the box turtle found in parts of the US are land-dwellers but they do swim and have some webbing on the feet.

Sea turtles are absolutely marine and their limbs are essentially flippers with claws.

Turtles are unique among reptiles because their body is encased in a shell. This shell which acts as a protective armor may in part account for their long survival on earth. The shell varies in shape according to the species or way of life of the turtle. Marine turtles have a rather flat one in comparison to the domed-shaped shell of many terrestrial varieties.

The top shell is known as the carapace the lower as the plastron. The horny plates or shields of the carapace and plastron are called scutes these are lacking in the carapace of the softshell turtles.

It is sometimes hard to tell the difference between a male and female turtle particularly when they’re young. Adult males are often smaller in comparison to females and often have a longer tail and a concave turned-in plastron as opposed to the flat or convex turned-out plastron of the female.

Turtles lack teeth but their sexy bill will tear plant and animal matter. Their foods change with the species but turtles are typically omnivorous.

Unlike snakes turtles have moveable eyelids which are closed when they are asleep. External ear openings are covered by a membrane but turtles are keenly aware of ground vibrations.

Turtles are air-breathers and have lungs though respiration is helped in nautical species by the mouth and cloaca posterior opening every one of which like a gill is able to absorb some oxygen from the water. This permits the turtle to stay submerged a very long time without surfacing for air.

All turtles lay their eggs on dry land even sea turtles must come ashore to lay them. This doesn’t suggest that it is very unlikely for a turtle to lay eggs in water. Sadly this is commonly the case with captive samples who either lack the instinct to search out a dry place or because a proper area for digging has not been offered by the owner. If the eggs aren’t removed almost instantly from the water the embryos will drown.

Turtles give no parental care to their eggs or young. The eggs are usually eaten by predators or become victims of the elements like floods and droughts. The young are preyed on or become traffic victims while slowly setting out all alone right after hatching.

Some turtles are noted for longevity and there are records of large tortoises living almost 150 years. Even little species have been known to survive longer than 40 years in captivity.

But in this day of the supremacy of man the longevity of turtles may be a thing of the past. There are only about 250 species of turtles remaining in the world today. Man-made changes in the natural world are happening so rapidly that a species common today could be endangered or extinct tomorrow. The reduction of habitat boggy areas in particular is particularly hard on reptiles and amphibians which unlike some other kinds of wildlife cannot conform to vastly different environment. Pollution is affecting not only the turtles’ habitat but also their food supply. Environmental difficulties if not cured could inside a particularly short time wipe out these interesting creatures. Maybe more awareness of our turtles their wants and where they are found might help to urge a worry for their future welfare.

There are more turtle facts in our types of turtles section.