Common Snapping Turtles
Chelydra serpentine belongs to the kingdom Animalia because they are multicellular and eukaryotic heterotrophs. They also belong to the phylum Chordata because they had the following features at some point in their lives: pharyngeal slits, dorsal nerve cord, notochord, post-anal tail. Chelydra serpentine have waterproof skin covered in scales, are ectothermic and have hard shelled eggs that are water proof. These features make them a part of the class Reptilia. They belong to the order Testudines (turtles) which means they have the following features: boney shell which is part of their skeleton, a shell on their underside, sharp beaks that replace teeth and allows them to tear their food. There are over 290 species of Testudines alive today
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They have heads and limbs that cannot be fully retracted within the shell. The upper jaw is hook and the jaws are very strong. They have long tales that are roughly the same length as the shell. They also have special skeletal adaptions. From family we can break it down into species. The scientific name for the Common Snapping Turtle is Chelydra serpentine. The Common Snapping Turtles have some unique traits that separate them from other turtles. They have three pronounced ridges on the shell. These ridges are very noticeable as the turtles are young but become worn down with age. They have black, spotted pattern in their eyes that are shaped like a cross. They also have a uniquely yellow underside that makes them stand out from other types of …show more content…
During the daytime it is not uncommon to see this turtle floating just below the waters surface. The Common Snapping Turtle has the ability to swim but most of the time it will move by walking on the bottom of the water body. They are Omnivorous. Their main sources of their diet depends on their location, which could include insects, fish, crawfish, worms, tadpoles, snakes, snails, frogs and aquatic plants. They will also feed on dead animals if given the chance. Hatchlings actively forage for food where adults wait for the food source to find them. The adult will quickly extend its head and neck and can capture the prey and tear the flesh with their strong
They have heads and limbs that cannot be fully retracted within the shell. The upper jaw is hook and the jaws are very strong. They have long tales that are roughly the same length as the shell. They also have special skeletal adaptions. From family we can break it down into species. The scientific name for the Common Snapping Turtle is Chelydra serpentine. The Common Snapping Turtles have some unique traits that separate them from other turtles. They have three pronounced ridges on the shell. These ridges are very noticeable as the turtles are young but become worn down with age. They have black, spotted pattern in their eyes that are shaped like a cross. They also have a uniquely yellow underside that makes them stand out from other types of …show more content…
During the daytime it is not uncommon to see this turtle floating just below the waters surface. The Common Snapping Turtle has the ability to swim but most of the time it will move by walking on the bottom of the water body. They are Omnivorous. Their main sources of their diet depends on their location, which could include insects, fish, crawfish, worms, tadpoles, snakes, snails, frogs and aquatic plants. They will also feed on dead animals if given the chance. Hatchlings actively forage for food where adults wait for the food source to find them. The adult will quickly extend its head and neck and can capture the prey and tear the flesh with their strong