Page 102 - World of Animals - Deadly Predators

COMMON SNAPPING

TURTLE

Placid in the water but feisty on land, these turtles have quite a bite

© Wiki Author Moondigger CC-By-SA-2.5

Words Sarah Spinney

he common snapping turtle (or waiting for their next meal to swim by. They alligator snappers had turtle remains in their
snapper) is a large freshwater then quickly stretch out their long necks to stomachs, probably their smaller common
turtle with a fearsome reputation. catch the prey with their razor-sharp beaks. cousins. Other than larger turtles, adult
They are found throughout much Their larger cousins, the alligator snapping common snappers have few
T of the eastern and mid United turtle, have another trick up their sleeve. natural predators.
States, as well as southeastern Canada. Their tongues resemble worms that are
While the power of their bite isn’t necessarily irresistible to passing fish. Alligator snappers
that impressive (about half the force of a lie in wait and wriggle their tongues, acting
human), their incredibly sharp beaks are as a lure. Alligator snapping turtles
capable of slicing a finger clean off. Luckily look altogether more fearsome
for swimmers, this is only likely to happen than their abundant cousins, with
if the turtle feels threatened on land. If much larger beaks and weighing
provoked, snappers have a fierce disposition. up to an incredible 113 kilograms.
If encountered in the water, however, In one study, 80% of surveyed
they tend to quietly slip away from
any disturbance.
Common snappers have a varied diet
and are excellent scavengers. They are
also lethal hunters and will prey on
anything they can swallow, including
fish, frogs, invertebrates, birds and
often other turtles. The turtles hunt
by ambush, burying themselves
in the mud of shallow ponds and

NOSTRILS
While lying in wait for their
prey, snappers often sit with
their nostrils just above the
water in order to breathe.

COMMON SNAPPING
TURTLE (SNAPPERS)
Chelydra serpentina
Lifespan 75-100 years BEAK
Adult weight 4.5-16kg
(10-35lbs) The razor-sharp
Conservation status beak of the PLASTRON
snapping turtle is All turtles have a hard plate
able to slice through that covers much of their
LEAST CONCERN most types of prey. stomach called a plastron.

100