1. Basic information

1. Chinese name: North American snapping turtle

2. Alias: Snapping Turtle

3. Latin name: North American (Common) Snapping Turtle

4. Binomial method: Chelydra serpentina serpentina

5. Kingdom: Animalia

6. Door: Chordate

7. Subphylum: Vertebrate Subphylum

8. Class: Reptile Class

9, Subclass: Apoporia

10, Order: Turtles

11, Family: Snapping Turtle

12. Genus: Snapper

13. Species: Snapper

14. Distribution area: Eastern Canada, rivers, shallow lakes and swamps

2. Morphological characteristics

1. Body size: the body length can reach 1 meter and the weight can reach 22.7kg.

2. Head: The head is short, the snout is slightly pointed, the beak is similar to the olecranon, and there are generally black stripes on the upper and lower jaws.

3. Neck: There is a raised sarcoma on the neck.

4. Carapace: The carapace is slightly raised and has a serrated edge at the back, which is square and round, and the color is darker. The shape of the carapace is generally narrow in the front and wide in the back. The width of the third vertebral shield does not exceed one third of the overall width of the carapace, and is narrower than that of the second rib shield. Generally, the carapace of juveniles is black or dark brown, and turns brown and gray-brown in color after adults.

5. Plastron: The length of the front page of the plastron does not exceed 40% of the carapace. The plastron is generally black, red, orange-red or with red and orange-red spots.

6. Claws: The claws are thick, long, and very sharp.

Three 、The difference between male and female

Generally the genital pore is located within or flush with the first thorn of the tail for the female snapping turtle, while the genital pore is located in the first thorn of the tail. Beyond the spines are male snapping turtles.

four , Breeding time

The breeding season of North American snapping turtles is generally from April to November. Generally, female turtles go ashore and dig holes with their hind feet, and then produce 17 to 60 white spherical turtles. Eggs, the diameter of the eggs is 3~4cm, and the natural hatching takes about 55~125 days.

V. Living habits

1. Diet: North American snapping turtles are carnivorous, mainly fish, shrimp, frogs, salamanders, small snakes , ducks, water birds, and sometimes aquatic plants, fallen fruits, etc.

2. Activities: North American snapping turtle farms are active in rivers, shallow lakes and swamps. And they like nocturnal activities, feeding.

Well, that's it for this article's introduction to the North American snapping turtle. Dear friends, if there is anything else you want to know, please let me know in the comments!