Talk:Common snapping turtle

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Amphibians and Reptiles C‑class

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Arbitrary section header

Somebody who knows more than I ought to discuss that they are a common host for leeches. 00:16, 15 May 2007 (UTC)jsmerc01

Photographs

If this article includes all snapping turtles,

Theres some big ole boys down where i come from. We found one and named him rocky.

Clever. You know Rocky had two turtles he named Cuff and Link.--BillFlis 13:15, 11 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Soup

I moved the soup links to the Turtle soup article, and added a link to the Turtle soup article here.--BillFlis 13:15, 11 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Largest or not?

One editor had it as the largest fresh-water turtle in the world, but another demoted it to "one of the largest". Is it indeed the largest or not? Anybody got a citation?--BillFlis 01:54, 4 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

The Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) is the largest freshwater turtle in North America. The worlds largest is still up for debate, but The Giant Softshell Turtle (Pelochelys bibroni) is at the top of the list. MFuture 02:00, 25 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Merge with Chelydra?

i propose to merge this article with the Chelydra stub, in effect making this an entry on the Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina, the only extant member of its genus). the Alligator Snapping Turtle has its own entry, and so any info here on that species is redundant anyway. if there are no major objections, i'll get underway within the next couple of weeks. (it really needs to be more encyclopedic, anyhoo.) Metanoid 05:15, 21 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

No objection here! MFuture 23:21, 9 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

subspecies

whoever added the notes on subspecies, thx! my 'net cnxn has been down for nearly a week. Metanoid 17:10, 3 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

amputation of digits

please reference the tutles ability of amputate digits

I have found that anyone studying these creatures (e.g. Ministry of Natural Resources in Ontario Canada) will tell you the amputation of digits tales are myths. They can break skin but not much more. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.78.127.33 (talk) 15:35, 2 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

As a licensed wildlife rehabilitator I have taken in quite a few injured adult common snapping turtles. I've demonstrated on several occasions, using an appropriate sized stick, the crushing strength in the bite of these animals. This, combined with the slicing edges of the mouth can easily do sufficient damage to a finger or toe to completely destroy if not sever it.CharmsDad (talk) 09:31, 23 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

The claim that C.serp. can sever fingers in one bite is not supported to my knowledge (I am a grad student working on STs - have handled hundreds). Most (even large males) cannot break a pencil. I have seen (and know of other instances) bites from large STs - lacerations occurred but no serious injuries. No doubt injuries might occur in severe bite but severed digits extremely unlikely. Matt Keevil (talk) 17:49, 17 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Life span

I think this section needs to be verified. I've heard of snappers living over a century. Recently, a documentary said they were finding snappers with musketballs in their shells from the Civil War. -- VegitaU 05:01, 29 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

from a very brief google search, that claim seems to be floating around about an alligator snapper, but not the common (C. serpentina) Metanoid (talk, email) 19:40, 14 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

True dat. I didn't realize there was another species. That's the one they featured on Dirty Jobs. -- VegitaU 22:50, 14 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

further improvements

anyone want to start on the "In captivity" section? i'd like to keep it, having briefly cared for a snapper myself; but it really needs to be better cited than it is at present. Metanoid (talk, email) 02:06, 27 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

me again. pretty good (!!well-referenced!!) pieces on chelydrids (esp. Chelydra)at darren naish's Tet Zoo blog. here's some links if anyone would like to check 'em out:

http://darrennaish.blogspot.com/2006/02/they-bite-they-grow-to-huge-sizes-they.html http://darrennaish.blogspot.com/2006/02/snapping-turtles-part-ii.html http://darrennaish.blogspot.com/2006/05/snapping-turtles-part-iii-bite-lunge.html

Metanoid (talk, email) 02:10, 25 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The method described for lifting is appropriate for the alligator snapper but not the common snapper. These turtles can pull their heads in far enough and their necks are flexible enough that grabbing the shell behind the head is a guarantee of being bitten. The proper way to lift the common snapping turtle is by grabbing the shell with both hands above and slightly forward of the back legs. Curling your hands in far enough will prevent the claws of the rear feet from being able to push your hands off. If the animal's shell is fractured lifting by the shell is usually not appropriate. In such cases a sheet or blanket can be used to to lift the animal safely. Avoid netting since it tends to tangle and catch in claws and be difficult to remove.CharmsDad (talk) 09:47, 23 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

One of the external pages referenced at the end of this article (www.chelydra.org) has a description, with pictures, of the proper way to handle Common Snapping Turtles at http://www.chelydra.org/snapping_turtle_handling.html. In my experience, that site is a reliable source for information about turtles which is both accurate and responsible.CharmsDad (talk) 17:12, 3 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Red List status incorrect

This species has not been assessed, and therefore the RL status in the taxobox should not say "VU". It is the Central American species/subspecies C. rossignoni (http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/63660/summ) that is listed as Vulnerable. Will R Turner (talk) 11:35, 2 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You are correct. - UtherSRG (talk) 05:23, 3 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Should they stay or go?

Last summer I purchased a home with about a 1 acre 15 foot deep pond, here in middle Tennessee. The previous owners and I both have been removing common snappers by either live trap and release or shooting. I thinking of adding some fish and am questioning whether to leave the turtles or continue to remove them. Any help or advise would be appreciated.

Also this article about the turtles rarely basking is not all true here. I see the turtles floating all the time in the sun. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.183.120.239 (talk) 17:38, 15 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Snapping turtles will take out fish as will some other turtle species (depending on the size and type of fish). While you may be able to trap some, the only way to completely remove the snapping turtles is by draining the pond. Snapping turtles do not generally bask or sit at the top of the water. There are quite a few aquatic turtles native to Tennessee and I suspect you have other species present in your pond. It is quite common to have multiple species in any aquatic environment.CharmsDad (talk) 09:55, 23 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

food for snapers

the common snaper will eat almost anything and loves: grass hopers(with there legs off), turtle pelets,lettus,fish flakes,raw beef,cooked eggs,cut leches,and minos —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.149.144.109 (talk) 23:40, 15 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Captivity Section flow

This section ends with a warning not to engage a snapper and drag it around while it bites on a stick. Might be good advice but has nothing to do with captivity. Couldn't find anywhere else it should go. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 6StringJazzer (talk • contribs) 03:18, 27 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]

predation by Great Blue Heron

User [Agamemnus] has removed the picture Image:GreatBlueHeroneatingturtle08.jpg from the gallery at the bottom with the justification for the removal being that it has nothing to do with anatomy. I disagree with that argument and have reinstated the image. There is a lot more to Snapping Turtles than just their anatomy, including their ecological interactions. I think that the picture is interesting and helps to illustrate the high predation rate experienced by hatchling turtles which is a key force shaping their entire life history strategy. [Agamemnus], please feel free to discuss this issue here. Matt Keevil (talk) 07:26, 22 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]