How to Tell If Your Turtle Is a Snapper?

Snapping turtles are common in North America.

Common snapping turtles, known scientifically as Chelydra serpentina, are found through North America. They are known for their strong jaws and their aggressive personality. They are typically docile animals unless provoked. Snapping turtle are found slow-moving rivers, canals and shallow ponds. Snapping turtles are easy reptiles to identify.

Instructions

1. Look at the shell. The shell of the snapping turtle, also known as a carapace, has three ridges on it, running from the head back to the tail. The carapace is typically black, brown, tan, or olive.

2. Look at the head. Snapping turtles tend to have heads that are large in proportion to their bodies and there are two barbels underneath their chins. Barbels are whisker-like protusions.

3. Check the eyes. Snapping turtles have a pattern of black spots in their eyes which are shaped like a cross.

4. Examine the tail. The snapping turtle's tail is nearly as long as as the carapace.

5. Look at the plastron. The plastron is the hard plate on the snapping turtle's belly. In a snapping turtle, the plastron is significantly smaller than the carapace. The plastron tends to be yellow or creamy white and some specimens have dark markings on the plastron.

Tips & Warnings

• Use caution when approaching a snapping turtle. They are aggressive when provoked and their powerful jaws can deliver a severe bite.

References

• Chelydra.org; Snapping Turtle Identifcation
• Chesapeake Bay Program; Common Snapping Turtle