Typical Snapping Turtles

Chelydra

Typical snapping turtles are big reptiles that live in water and on land. They have strong jaws and a tough shell, making them unique and interesting creatures to discover!

Lebensraum: Wetlands

Aussehen

The Typical Snapping Turtle has a large, rugged, dark brown or olive-green shell with a saw-toothed rear edge. Its powerful head features a pointed snout and strong, hooked jaws. A long, muscular tail, often as long as its shell, distinguishes it from many other turtles.

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Typical Snapping Turtles

Kategorie

Reptilien

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

3/5 · Mittel

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

Baby snapping turtles are only the size of a quarter when they hatch!

Despite their tough look, female snapping turtles dig perfect nests for their eggs using only their hind legs!

Some snapping turtles can stay underwater for hours by lowering their heart rate and metabolism!

They can eat almost anything, even plants and dead animals they find!

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Typical Snapping Turtles can deliver a bone-crushing bite because of their strong jaws that help them defend themselves and catch prey.

Typical Snapping Turtles has a dark, algal-covered shell that helps them blend perfectly into murky pond bottoms, surprising unsuspecting prey.

Typical Snapping Turtles can extend their neck quickly to grab prey because of their flexible neck bones that help them strike from a distance.

Typical Snapping Turtles can wait motionless for hours because their low metabolism allows them to hold their breath for extended periods underwater.

Maße und Details

Länge: 20-47 cm
Gewicht: 4.5-16 kg
Lebenserwartung: 30-47 Jahre
Top Speed: 10 km/h
Schwimmgeschwindigkeit: 3 km/h
Gelegegröße: 20-40
Brutzeit: 75-120 Tage
Maximale Tiefe: 5 m

Ernährung und Fütterung

They eat almost anything they can catch or find, from fish and frogs to plants and dead animals.

Altersunterschiede: Young turtles eat more insects; adults hunt larger fish and small animals.

Hauptnahrung

fish
frogs
crayfish
aquatic plants
waterfowl
carrion

Nahrungssuche

Ambush

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

hunts

American Bullfrog

Rana catesbeiana

Preys on frogs found in its aquatic habitat.

hunts

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

Ambushes ducklings swimming near the surface.

eaten by

Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Raccoons often raid nests to eat their eggs.

eaten by

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

Large pike may opportunistically eat small hatchlings.

eaten by

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

Hatchlings can be prey for wading birds.

Merkmale

Einzelgänger

Einzelgänger leben den größten Teil ihres Lebens allein und interagieren mit Artgenossen nur zur Paarung oder zur Aufzucht der Jungen.

Feuchtgebiet

Dieses Lebensraummerkmal kennzeichnet Arten, die in Feuchtgebieten vorkommen. Dies sind Landflächen, die dauerhaft oder saisonal mit Wasser gesättigt sind, darunter Marschland, Sümpfe und Moore.

Langlebig

Dieses Merkmal kennzeichnet Organismen mit einer außergewöhnlich langen Lebensspanne im Vergleich zu anderen ihrer Art.

Lauerjäger

Ein Lauerjäger jagt, indem er geduldig wartet und sich versteckt, um dann einen plötzlichen Angriff zu starten, wenn arglose Beute in Reichweite kommt.