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Common Snapping Turtle
Colouration.—Carapace, dull olive or dark brown, with little or no markings; plastron dull yellow. The upper portion of the head is very dark as is the upper-surface of the limbs and tail; beneath, these members are yellowish.
Dimensions.—The figures given represent a fair-sized adult:
Distribution.—Southern Canada and the United States generally east of the Rocky Mountains; southward through Mexico to Ecuador.
Large specimens will weigh about forty pounds and such would have a carapace about fourteen inches long.
The carapace is very sharply serrated in the rear. There are three blunt, broken keels, rising as tubercles at the rear margins of the shields through which they pass. The carapace of old individuals is quite smooth. With young specimens there are radiating lines or ridges from the higher portions of the keels. Very young specimens are exceedingly rough. See Fig.--The plastron is small and narrow, exposing a great amount of the fleshy parts.
The under-surface of the tail is covered with large shields.
As with all of the very aquatic chelonians the feet are broad and extensively webbed. Both front and rear pairs are provided with large and coarse nails.
Most characteristic about this, and the allied species, is the huge, powerful head; the upper and lower mandibles terminate in strong hooks. Though the eyes are comparatively small, they are very keen of vision. The head cannot be completely withdrawn into the shell, nor can the tail--nearly as long as the upper shell--be protected beyond folding against the lower margin of the shell.
Total length, with Tail and Head outstretched 28 inches.
Length of Carapace . . . . . 12 inches.
Width of Carapace . . . . . 10 1/4 inches.
Length of Plastron . . . . . 8 3/4 inches.
Length of Tail . . . . . 11 inches.
Circumference of Head . . . . . 10 inches.
Weight . . . . . 32 pounds.
Habits of the Snapping Turtle
Sinister in appearance and equally vicious as its looks imply, the Snapping Turtle is one of the most familiar of the North American reptiles. It inhabits slow-running, muddy rivers and streams, ponds and marshes. Very old specimens are sometimes so bloated and overburdened with fat that the fleshy parts protrude beyond the margin of the shell and so hinder the progress of the limbs that the reptile is almost helpless when removed from the water. Specimens in this condition are said to be excellent as food. Large numbers of snapping turtles are sold in the markets of Philadelphia and Baltimore. They fetch about ten cents per pound.
With the exception of the soft-shelled turtles--genus Trionyx, the Snapping Turtles are rather unique among chelonians, in defending themselves in a like fashion to snakes; namely by "striking" at the object of anger. The rapidity with which the head is lurched forward rivals the dexterity of the rattle-snake. So quick is the movement that the eye is barely able to follow it. Backed up by a pair of keen-edged, cutting mandibles and jaw muscles of tremendous power, the stroke of these dangerous brutes may be followed by anything but superficial injury. The amputation of a finger by a medium-sized specimen, or a hand by a very large individual would be an accomplishment of no difficulty to the reptile. As in their native state these turtles lie partially embedded in the mud of the river-bottom, the rapid movements of the head and neck are important in the capture of fish which form the larger portion of the food. But the Snapping Turtle is an exceedingly voracious brute, and is not particular as to its fare. Young water fowl are stalked from beneath the surface, seized by a dart of the jaws and pulled below to drown and be quickly torn to pieces by the keen mandibles assisted by the front limbs. The turtle is entirely carnivorous. It never feeds unless under water, but it will sometimes seize its prey on the bank of a stream, then retreat into the necessary element. To keep one of these reptiles in water so shallow that it is unable to entirely immerse its head and supply it regularly with the most tempting food, would ultimately result in its starvation. It appears that the reptile is unable to swallow unless the head is under water.
As a captive the Snapping Turtle feeds readily and lives for many years. It will take food from the hand that feeds it, but most specimens resent undue familiarity and snap viciously when handled. The safest way to handle a large specimen is to pick it up by the tail and hold it well off from one's body. As the animal is able to throw the head well back over the shell and to strike a considerable distance sideways, it is altogether dangerous to hold a large specimen by the shell. Small individuals may be safely handled by grasping them by the rear portion of the shell, which position removes the fingers from the play of the jaws.