common snapping turtle
(Chelydra serpentina)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
Common snapping turtle is the largest turtle species in Minnesota. The tail is almost as long as the upper shell (carapace). |
Size |
8″ to 18″ |
Similar Species |
Habitat |
Lakes, ponds and marshes, streams and rivers |
Biology |
Behavior |
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Lifespan |
30 to 47 years |
Life Cycle |
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Food |
Opportunistic feeders. Plant matter, carrion, and any living thing. |
Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 4/18/2024 | ||
Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy |
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Class |
Reptilia (reptiles) |
Order |
Testudines (turtles and tortoises) |
Suborder |
Cryptodira (hidden-necked turtles) |
Superfamily |
Testudinoidea |
Family |
Chelydridae (snapping turtles) |
Genus |
Chelydra (typical snapping turtles) |
Subordinate Taxa |
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Three subspecies have been described in the past. Two have been raised to full species and the third is now considered a synonym. No subspecies are currently recognized. |
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Synonyms |
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Chelydra emarginata Chelydra lacertina Chelydra laticarinata Chelydra osceola Chelydra sculpta Chelydra serpentina osceola Chelydra serpentina serpentina Devisia mythodes Testudo serpentaria Testudo serpentina |
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Common Names |
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common snapping turtle North American snapping turtle snapping turtle |
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Visitor Photos |
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R. Hill |
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Pennie Burton |
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Greg Watson |
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a pair of Common Snapping Turtles floating on the water surface |
Dan W. Andree |
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Big Snapping Turtle On the bank of a creek in Norman Co. Mn. Looks like it has a long neck. Neat big turtle. |
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A large Snapping Turtle... 8-23-21 at a shrinking pond in Norman Co. Mn. It has been raining this past week so maybe it will come back up a little. The big turtle was just kind of hanging out in that spot relaxing but alert. Pretty neat big turtle. |
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Snapping Turtle... I came across this snapping turtle on a county highway between Twin Valley and Ada, Mn. on May 28, 2019. It just sat on the road and I seen a couple vehicles go around it. I pulled into an approach and decided to try get it off the road so it wouldn’t get ran over. I figured it could possibly be a female heading to a certain spot to lay its eggs. Though not sure. Anyway all the while watching for any vehicles coming I gave a slight nudge to the turtle near its tail end. I just tried to slowly turn around toward me. I knew not to try pick one up and not having any luck getting it to move looked in the ditch and found a sturdy stick. I still had a time getting it off the road and at times pushed it a little with the stick. Anyway got it off the road into the ditch it was heading to. Snapping turtles kind of remind me of a reptile of back in the dinosaur days. |
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Lane Keller |
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Several years ago, I almost landed on this big snapping turtle when I was jumping off the dock. |
Kirk Nelson |
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Snapping Turtle, Carver Park Reserve Snapping turtle next to the bike path |
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Nerstrand Big Woods State Park | |
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Fort Snelling State Park. On the trail along the west side of Snelling Lake; I gave it a wide berth. |
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Lynn Rubey |
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A young Snapping Turtle along the side of the auto tour road in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, it didn't try to escape from me. So I was able to get more pictures of it. |
A front view or face to face with the Snapping Turtle. I gently picked it up and turned it over, it just lied there while I took my photos then turned it over. I stood guard while vehicles drove on by. Then I gently carried it to the side of the road and set it in the grass. I stopped on my way out to check on it and it was no longer there. |
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A photo of the front foot. |
A photo of its tail and hind foot. | |
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This Common Snapping Turtle was sun bathing on rocks across from the docks in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. Its' head was up when I approcahed the dock then it lowered it then raised it again it seemed to ejoy the warm sunny day. |
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Vinje, Shari |
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| Sunning itself. |
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Jane Johnsen |
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Jenny Stevens |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
Snapping Turtle |
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About
Chelydra serpentina NH Conservation Status: Not listed State Rank Status: Widespread and secure. Distribution: Throughout state, less common in northern New Hampshire. Description:A large turtle measuring 8-14 inches and weighing up to 70 pounds. A rough carapace ranges in color form black to light brown. The head is large and the tail is long with a distinct saw-toothed edge. Commonly Confused Species: Juveniles may be confused with musk turtles and wood turtles. Habitat: Any permanent water body such as lakes, ponds, swamps, bogs, streams, and rivers, especially aquatic habitats with muddy bottoms and abundant submerged logs and aquatic vegetation. Use terrestrial habitats while searching for appropriate nesting sites and traveling among wetland habitats. Life History: Lays 20-40 eggs in soil banks or sand and gravel piles in fields or lawns and may be several hundred feet or more from water. Hibernates in mud bottom or under logs or other submerged debris, sometimes communally. Conservation Threats: Water pollution, road mortality, habitat loss. source: http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/Nongame/turtles/snapping_turtle.htm |
Visitor Videos |
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Maggie E. |
common snapping turtle 01 |
About
common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) |
Other Videos |
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The Snapping Turtle (Chelydridae: Chelydra serpentina) Locomotion |
About
Uploaded on Dec 26, 2009 A contemplative look at the Common Snapping Turtle, which is a surprisingly common but seldom seen species that is found in rivers, ponds, and lakes in the upper midwest of the United States. Specimens shown here were photographed in North Dakota during the summer of 2009. |
Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) |
About
Published on Mar 13, 2013 No description available. |
Snapping Turtle (Chelydridae: Chelydra serpentina) on Road |
About
Uploaded on May 30, 2010 Photographed near the Rydell NWR, Minnesota (27 May 2010). |
Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this reptile. |
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R. Hill |
Location: Mitchell Rd in Eden Prairie |
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| Maggie E. 6/3/2024 |
Location: Coon Rapids Mobile home park Every year we see at least 2 turtles in one of the yards that are behind Coon Creek. Which my home is. Can't understand why they wander around in driveways & street. |
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Pennie Burton |
Location: Lake County, Penmarallter Campsite |
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Greg Watson |
Location: Wagon Wheel Trail in La Crescent, MN. |
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| Dan W. Andree 5/25/2023 |
Location: Norman Co. Mn. On the bank of a creek in Norman Co. Mn. Looks like it has a long neck. Neat big turtle. |
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| Gloria Peterson 7/26/2022 |
Location: 106 Bottineau Ave NW Red Lake Falls He has moss on back good size In my yard |
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| Dan W. Andree 8/23/2021 |
Location: Norman Co. Mn. A large Snapping Turtle 8-23-21 at a shrinking pond in Norman Co. Mn. It has been raining this past week so maybe it will come back up a little. The big turtle was just kind of hanging out in that spot relaxing but alert. Pretty neat big turtle. |
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| Lynn Rubey 10/28/2019 |
Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge A front view or face to face with the Snapping Turtle. I gently picked it up and turned it over, it just lied there while I took my photos then turned it over. I stood guard while vehicles drove on by. Then I gently carried it to the side of the road and set it in the grass. I stopped on my way out to check on it and it was no longer there. |
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| Lynn Rubey 8/9/2019 |
Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge This Common Snapping Turtle was sun bathing on rocks across from the docks in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. Its' head was up when I approcahed the dock then it lowered it then raised it again it seemed to ejoy the warm sunny day. |
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| Kirk Nelson 6/8/2019 |
Location: Carver Park Reserve Snapping turtle next to the bike path |
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| Shari Vinje 6/4/2019 |
Location: Esko, MN. My driveway near Midway River and Midway Creek. Sunning itself. |
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| Dan W. Andree 5/28/2019 |
Location: between Twin Valley and Ada, Mn I came across this snapping turtle on a county highway between Twin Valley and Ada, Mn. on May 28, 2019. It just sat on the road and I seen a couple vehicles go around it. I pulled into an approach and decided to try get it off the road so it wouldn’t get ran over. I figured it could possibly be a female heading to a certain spot to lay its eggs. Though not sure. Anyway all the while watching for any vehicles coming I gave a slight nudge to the turtle near its tail end. I just tried to slowly turn around toward me. I knew not to try pick one up and not having any luck getting it to move looked in the ditch and found a sturdy stick. I still had a time getting it off the road and at times pushed it a little with the stick. Anyway got it off the road into the ditch it was heading to. Snapping turtles kind of remind me of a reptile of back in the dinosaur days. |
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| E. Martell 9/2/2018 |
Location: east shore of Clark Lake, Nisswa 30' up on a bluff above water's edge. 1 and 3/8" shell length, no sign of where it came from. |
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| Carol Naber 9/11/2017 |
Location: Rice Creek North Regional Corridor, east of Prairie Ridge Dr. where Rice Creek Fields lead to Rice Creek total of 4 approximately 1 inch snapping turtles observed 9/10 and 9/11 on black top walk path. Slightly sand covered and headed toward Rice Creek. |
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| Lane Keller 7/29/2017 |
Location: Bear Head Lake State Park Several years ago, I almost landed on this big snapping turtle when I was jumping off the dock. |
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| Kirk Nelson 5/29/2017 |
Location: Fort Snelling State Park On the trail along the west side of Snelling Lake; I gave it a wide berth. |
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| Jenny Stevens 7/6/2015 |
Location: Inver Grove Heights |
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| Kirk Nelson 5/31/2014 |
Location: Nerstrand Big Woods State Park |
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Kirk Nelson |
Location: Bass Ponds in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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