THE COMMON SNAPPING TURTLE - Volume 62 - Number 7/8 December 2008/January 2009

Aug 26, 2026

A newsletter article profiles the common snapping turtle as an ancient reptile lineage, outlining evolutionary background and distinguishing traits that separate hatchlings from adults. It describes habitat use in the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, diet and nocturnal feeding behavior, and predation risks from a range of mammals. The piece also covers nesting behavior, egg incubation by ambient temperature, temperature-driven sex determination, and management actions such as protected sites and predator-proof fencing to support hatchling survival.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLifestyle

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time6 min

AccessFree to download

THE COMMON SNAPPING TURTLE

Species background and distinguishing features

Habitat, diet, and human interactions

Nesting, incubation, and temperature-based sex determination

Predation risks and refuge management

Volume 62, Number 7/8 December 2008/January 2009 THE COMMON SNAPPING TURTLE Leo Hollein Turtles are an ancient group of animals. Members of the class Reptilia, they evolved their shelled form more than 200 million years ago. They are considered the oldest and most primitive of living reptiles. Along with amphibians, reptiles represent a transitional stage in vertebrate evolution that diverged from the aquatic fishes and eventually gave rise to birds and mammals (Ernst, et al., 1994) . Most of the turtles found inland in the northeastern U. S. are aquatic and prefer calm or slow moving water. The excellent turtle habitat in the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (GSNWR) in northern New Jersey supports ten different turtle species. The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) is the only truly terrestrial species. The Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) and Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) also known as the Stinkpot for the odor itemits when disturbed are primarily aquatic and diurnal. The GSNWR has a robust population of Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) that are often seen basking in the sun on logs in ponds and waterways. The state threatened Wood Turtle (Clemmys insculpta) also known as“Old Red Legs, the federally endangered Bog Turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii) and the petite, attractive Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)(above) split their lives between land and water. The GSNWR also has introduced turtle species that most likely were released in or near the swamp by their previous owners. These include the popular pet trade Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), the Red-bellied Turtle (Pseudemys rubriventris) and the River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna) . These turtles are all native to North America but not to New Jersey. It is also possible that the reclusive Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubum) inhabits the GSNWR, though none have been observed in at least the last ten years. The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife says they “historically occurred in Morris County”that encompasses the GSNWR. Like other turtles the hatchling Snapping Turtle is mostly like a miniature adult. It has the signature long tail that exceeds its top shell (carapace) in length. This is unique to snapping turtles. The rear of the carapace has distinct notches that are not found in other turtles in the GSNWR. The under shell (plastron) of the Snapping Turtle is small and is less than half the size of the carapace. This configuration leaves a lot of the turtle unprotected by its shell. The Snapper compensates by developing a large head, hooked beak, powerful jaws and a flexible neck that can be used to defend its self. Adult snappers are very aggressive if threatened or cornered while on land. Observe them from a The largest turtle in the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (GSNWR) is the Common Snapping Turtle (above) that can grow from a third of an ounce hatchling to a forty-five pound adult male. The Common Snapping Turtle has a range from Canada throughout North America and into South America. Only its cousin, the Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macroclemys temminckii) that occurs in the southern United States, is a larger North American fresh water turtle. safe distance. Besides bearing a resemblance to Jaba the Hut, the adult Common Snappershave a different carapace than the snapper hatchlings. The carapace of hatchlings is rough (see next page) while the adult developsa smooth carapace. The Common Snapping Turtle spends most of its life in the water. Its nostrils are on the tip of its head and enable the turtle to breath while barely surfacing. Snappers occupy streams and ponds in the GSNWR where they feed primarily at night on a variety of animals and some aquatic vegetation. They prey on fish, frogs, snakes, smaller turtles, ducks and ducklings as they patrol their watery territory. Ducks trapped for banding occasionally have injuries from snapper attacks. Snapping Turtles avoid confrontat

FAQs

Where does the common snapping turtle live in the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge?

It spends most of its life in water, occupying streams and ponds where it feeds at night.

What are key physical differences between hatchling and adult snapping turtles?

Hatchlings have a rough carapace, while adults develop a smooth carapace; snapping turtles also have a long tail and distinctive carapace notches.

How is the sex of common snapping turtles determined?

Sex is determined by incubation temperature: higher temperatures produce females and lower temperatures produce males.

Aug 26, 2026

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