Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)

Snapping Turtles live in freshwater, including slow moving rivers and swamps. They spend most of their time in the water floating and looking for food. Unlike other turtles, snapping turtles rarely come out of the water to bask in sun. This is probably a good thing because snapping turtles are large and aggressive. They have big heads and strong jaws. Adult turtles typically range in size from 20 to 45 cm (8 to 18 in) and from 4.5 to 13.5 kg (10 to 30 lb) in weight. Some turtles may weigh up to 22.7 kg (50 lb)!

Snapping turtles are omnivorous — they will eat just about anything they come across: shrimp, crawfish, frogs, fish, salamanders, snakes, snails, worms, leeches, clams, fiddler crabs, small mammals and turtles, algae, aquatic plants, and even ducks! On occasion, snapping turtles have been known to attack swimmers. The turtles don't have teeth, but they can bite very hard with their jaws.

Another important food item that the turtles will eat is carrion, the dead body of an animal. The turtles have a strong ability to sniff out rotting flesh. In fact, the police sometimes use snapping turtles to help them find dead human bodies.

Snapping turtles have been hunted for many years. Some people cook the shells and meat in stews. Turtle shells are found in many ancient Indian sites by archaeologists. Turtle meat was eaten and the shells were used for ceremonial rattles.