True snapping turtles are found only in the Mississippi Valley of North America. One of the most famous snapping turtles in the world. It maintains the characteristics of the original turtle, and the mouth, carapace scutellum, and red tongue are very peculiar. The upper and lower jaws at the front of the mouth are hook-shaped, like an eagle's beak, so sharp that they can bite off a person's fingers. The scutellum of the carapace is brown in color, and the 13 scutellum is like 13 hills rolling up and down, arranged in three vertical and horizontal rows. There are many jagged protrusions on the edge of the carapace, and the eyes are on both sides of the mouth, small and powerful. , there are many fleshy protrusions on the head and neck. It has a bright red and divided worm-like fleshy protrusion on its tongue, which is connected to the tongue by a circular muscle in the middle. Both ends can freely retract and move. Its tail is thin and long and hard like a steel whip. Unlike other turtles, its head and feet cannot be retracted into the shell.

The snapping turtle is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to human hunting and habitat loss. They are hunted for their tortoise shells, which are valuable in the shape of a cross on their breastplates. They are also cooked into turtle soup. The snapping turtle is protected by Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which restricts its export and international trade.

Characteristics:

The true snapping turtle looks like a crocodile fish, combining a turtle and a crocodile, so it is called a true snapping turtle . Its head is relatively thick and cannot be completely retracted into the shell, the neck is short and stout, the collar and back are long with brown thorns, the eyes are small, the upper and lower jaws are small, the snout is pointed, the tail is pointed and long, with edges on both sides, and there are long edges on the edges. Flesh spurs, there is a scaly raised ridge on the front two-thirds of the tail and a serrated mouth, the dorsal shell is very thin, the epithelium is mainly brown, occasionally brown, and the back has three fuzzy ribs, and there are Radial markings. The plastron is smaller than the carapace and is in the shape of a cross. The neck is gray-brown, and the limbs and tail have very prominent thorns. The rear edge is tooth-like, the abdomen is white, and there are occasional small black spots. It is black when young. The limbs are thick, muscular, and the claws are sharp and powerful, and they are good at crawling.

Reproduction:

Oviparous. The snapping turtle becomes an adult after 11-13 years. The male turtle is larger than the female turtle (as opposed to other turtles). The female turtle lays eggs in April-June, with a clutch of 10-60 eggs. Eggshells are hard, hatchlings are about 1.7 inches, and their tails are longer than their bodies.

Diet:

The snapping turtle mainly eats live food that automatically swims into its upper and lower beaks. But snapping turtles also devour any meat such as fish, beef, chicken, and commercial turtle feed. Clear and warm water should be provided for snapping turtles. In fact, it is also ok to eat some shrimps under artificial feeding.

Difficulty of rearing:

Only females are known to leave the water when they lay their eggs. The snapping turtle has a unique pink structure on its tongue that looks like a worm. They will lie quietly on the bottom of the water, with wide mouths and shaking bait to attract prey. They will also eat anything they can catch and swallow, including other turtles. There was an individual who lived in captivity for more than 60 years.

Feeding:

The snapping turtle mainly eats live food that automatically swims into its upper and lower beaks. But snapping turtles also devour any meat such as fish, beef, chicken, and commercial turtle feed. Large snapping turtles should be provided with clear, warm water.