Snapping Turtle : Great Lakes Aquarium
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Snapping Turtle

Snapping Turtle

Exhibits: Aviary

Animal Groups: Reptiles

Latin Name: Chelydra serpentina
Diet: Snapping turtles eat anything they can catch. They are known to eat fish, frogs, crayfish and aquatic insects. Snapping turtles may also catch and eat birds and small mammals.
Habitat: Ponds, lakes, marshes, slow rivers or other wetlands. Snapping turtles are found throughout Their range extends from southern Canada throughout much of the eastern United States, through Central and South America.
Animal Size: 8 to 19 inches (20 to 49 cm)
Conservation Status: Least Concern

Natural History

People are often concerned that snapping turtles will be aggressive in the water. They are far more likely to be aggressive on land, where they are a bit out of their element. Female turtles do travel on land when searching for a nesting site.