Common Snapping Turtle

Photo: (c) lwolfartist, some rights reserved (CC BY) (CC-BY)

Turtle Species

Common Snapping Turtle

Chelydra serpentina

  • Scientific nameChelydra serpentina
  • Japanese nameカミツキガメ
  • FamilySnapping turtles (Chelydridae)
  • Max carapace length50 cm
  • Longest recorded lifespan50 years
  • DietOmnivorous
  • LifestyleAquatic
  • Conservation status (IUCN)LC — Least Concern
  • iNaturalist observations123,725

About this species

The common snapping turtle is a species of large, freshwater turtles in the family Chelydridae. Its natural range extends from southeastern Canada, southwest to the edge of the Rocky Mountains, as far east as Nova Scotia, and Florida. The present-day C. serpentina population in the Middle Rio Grande suggests that the common snapping turtle has been present in this drainage since at least the 17th century and is likely native. The three species of Chelydra and the larger alligator snapping turtles are the only extant chelydrids, a family now restricted to the Americas. The common snapping turtle, as its name implies, is the most widespread.

Source: Wikipedia「Common snapping turtle」 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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