Snapping turtle

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Snapping turtle

Image:Common-snapping-turtle.jpg
Common Snapping Turtle

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Family:	Chelydridae

Genera

See text.

Snapping turtles (or snappers) are large, New World freshwater turtles of the family Chelydridae. The species range from southeastern Canada, west to the Rocky Mountains and south through Mexico to Ecuador.

Snapping turtles are noted for their powerful beak-like jaws and pugnacious disposition. They have a muscular build with ridged shells that may measure from 100 cm long in Chelydra species to some 166 cm long in the Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macroclemys temminckii). The latter species is the largest freshwater turtle in the world, weighing up to 100 kg. The Common Snapping Turtle (C. serpentina serpentina) and its subspecies are much smaller, weighing up to 17 kg in weight. Common snapping turtles kept as pets can become quite corpulent and difficult to move without their co-operation, and require frequent cleaning of their water tanks to remain content and healthy. In some areas they are hunted heavily for their meat. They may live for 50 years or more.

Snapping turtles have long spiked tails and necks which can reach two thirds the length of their shells, making handling dangerous. They cannot fully retract their head and appendages, relying on fierce displays when aggravated. Their snapping jaws and sharp claws are capable of inflicting serious injury; these turtles are best left alone.

Strangely enough, the Common Snapping Turtle, when raised in captivity from a hatchling, can sometimes become extremely docile and devoted to their owner. They show signs of intelligence in recognizing individual people and will seek out those they prefer to be around. Some can be taught to obey simple commands with enough patience, but this can be a long process as Snapping Turtles display the stubborn nature that is a defining characteristic of all turtle species. They are poorly suited to terrestrial locomotion, spending most of their time in ponds, shallow lakes and streams; Snapping turtles normally bask by floating at the surface with only their carapace exposed. Basking on land does occur at times. The belief that they never leave water to bask lends itself to the fact that they are very secretive about doing so. Other turtle species (Pseudemys, Chrysemys) are much more conspicuous in their basking habits. Rare forays onto land occur in June and July when females lay their spherical eggs. Male and Female snapping turtles also travel over land to reach new habitat. Such things as pollution, habitat destruction, food, and over-crowding will drive snappers to travel across land. It is common to find Common Snapping Turtles traveling far from the nearest water source. Some may inhabit brackish environments, such as estuaries. All snapping turtles are important scavengers, but also actively hunt fish, frogs, birds and small mammals. The alligator snapper has a flesh-red, worm-like tongue which it uses to lure fish into its mouth.

Unusual Role in Political History

The snapping turtle (known commonly and in folklore as the "Ograbme") was the central feature of a famous American political cartoon published in 1808 in protest of the Jeffersonian Embargo of 1807. The cartoon depicted a snapping turtle fervently holding onto an American trader with its jaws, who was attempting to bring a barrel of goods onto a British ship. The trader was seen whimsically uttering the words "Oh! this cursed Ograbme" (Embargo spelled backwards). This piece is commonly considered to be a pioneering work within the realm of the modern political cartoon genre.