Common Snapping Turtle

(Chelydra serpentina)

Conservation  •  Description  •  Habitat  •  Ecology  •  Distribution  •  Taxonomy

Common Snapping Turtle
Photo by Luciearl

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

NatureServe

N5 - Secure
S3 - Vulnerable

Minnesota

Delisted

High levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were found in Common Snapping Turtles in the Mississippi River in 1983. In 1984 the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources listed Common Snapping Turtle as a special concern species. In 2013 they removed it from the list.

Description

Common Snapping Turtle, officially named North American Snapping Turtle by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR), is the largest turtle species in Minnesota. The tail is almost as long as the upper shell (carapace).

The Common Snapping Turtle’s carapace and plastron are typically dark, but the skin can be a range of colors, including brown, black, and even shades of yellow and orange.

Size

Total length: 8″ to 18″

Similar Species

 

Habitat

Lakes, ponds and marshes, streams and rivers

Ecology

Behavior

 

Lifespan

30 to 47 years

Life Cycle

 

Food

Opportunistic feeders. Plant matter, carrion, and any living thing.

Distribution

Distribution Map
2/4/2026

Sources

6, 7, 14, 24, 30, 78, 83.

Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu. Accessed 2/4/2026).

Chelydra serpentina (Linnaeus, 1758) in GBIF Secretariat (2023). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org. Accessed 2026-02-04.

Occurrence

Common

Taxonomy

Class

Reptilia (Reptiles)

Order

Testudines (Turtles and Tortoises)

Suborder

Cryptodira (Hidden-neck Turtles)

Family

Chelydridae (Snapping Turtles)

Genus

Chelydra (Typical Snapping Turtles)

Subordinate Taxa

Three subspecies have been described in the past. Two have been raised to full species and the third is now considered a synonym. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Synonyms

Chelydra emarginata

Chelydra floridana

Chelydra lacertina

Chelydra laticarinata

Chelydra osceola

Chelydra sculpta

Chelydra serpentina osceola

Chelydra serpentina serpentina

Devisia mythodes

Macrochelys floridana

Testudo serpentaria

Testudo serpentina

Testudo serrata

Common Names

Common Snapping Turtle

North American Snapping Turtle

Snapping Turtle

Visitor Photos

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Luciearl

Common Snapping Turtle

R. Hill

Common Snapping Turtle

Pennie Burton

Common Snapping Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle

Greg Watson

Common Snapping Turtle
a pair of Common Snapping Turtles floating on the water surface

Dan W. Andree

Common Snapping Turtle

Big Snapping Turtle

On the bank of a creek in Norman Co. Mn. Looks like it has a long neck. Neat big turtle.

Common Snapping Turtle

A large Snapping Turtle...

8-23-21 at a shrinking pond in Norman Co. Mn. It has been raining this past week so maybe it will come back up a little. The big turtle was just kind of hanging out in that spot relaxing but alert. Pretty neat big turtle.

Common Snapping Turtle

Snapping Turtle...

I came across this snapping turtle on a county highway between Twin Valley and Ada, Mn. on May 28, 2019. It just sat on the road and I seen a couple vehicles go around it. I pulled into an approach and decided to try get it off the road so it wouldn’t get ran over. I figured it could possibly be a female heading to a certain spot to lay its eggs. Though not sure. Anyway all the while watching for any vehicles coming I gave a slight nudge to the turtle near its tail end. I just tried to slowly turn around toward me. I knew not to try pick one up and not having any luck getting it to move looked in the ditch and found a sturdy stick. I still had a time getting it off the road and at times pushed it a little with the stick. Anyway got it off the road into the ditch it was heading to. Snapping turtles kind of remind me of a reptile of back in the dinosaur days.

Lane Keller

Common Snapping Turtle
Several years ago, I almost landed on this big snapping turtle when I was jumping off the dock.

Kirk Nelson

Common Snapping Turtle

Snapping Turtle, Carver Park Reserve

Snapping turtle next to the bike path

Common Snapping Turtle
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Fort Snelling State Park. On the trail along the west side of Snelling Lake; I gave it a wide berth.

Common Snapping Turtle
Lorem_ipsum
Common Snapping Turtle
Lorem_ipsum

Lynn Rubey

Common Snapping Turtle
A young Snapping Turtle along the side of the auto tour road in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, it didn't try to escape from me. So I was able to get more pictures of it.
Common Snapping Turtle
A front view or face to face with the Snapping Turtle. I gently picked it up and turned it over, it just lied there while I took my photos then turned it over. I stood guard while vehicles drove on by. Then I gently carried it to the side of the road and set it in the grass. I stopped on my way out to check on it and it was no longer there.
Common Snapping Turtle
A photo of the front foot.
Common Snapping Turtle
A photo of its tail and hind foot.

This Common Snapping Turtle was sun bathing on rocks across from the docks in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. Its' head was up when I approcahed the dock then it lowered it then raised it again it seemed to ejoy the warm sunny day.

Common Snapping Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle

Vinje, Shari

Sunning itself.

Common Snapping Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle

Jane Johnsen

Common Snapping Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle

Jenny Stevens

Common Snapping Turtle

Minnesota Seasons Photos

Common Snapping Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle

Slideshows

Snapping Turtle
Andree Reno Sanborn

About

Chelydra serpentina

NH Conservation Status: Not listed

State Rank Status: Widespread and secure.

Distribution: Throughout state, less common in northern New Hampshire.

Description:A large turtle measuring 8-14 inches and weighing up to 70 pounds. A rough carapace ranges in color form black to light brown. The head is large and the tail is long with a distinct saw-toothed edge.

Commonly Confused Species: Juveniles may be confused with musk turtles and Wood Turtles.

Habitat: Any permanent water body such as lakes, ponds, swamps, bogs, streams, and rivers, especially aquatic habitats with muddy bottoms and abundant submerged logs and aquatic vegetation. Use terrestrial habitats while searching for appropriate nesting sites and traveling among wetland habitats.

Life History: Lays 20-40 eggs in soil banks or sand and gravel piles in fields or lawns and may be several hundred feet or more from water. Hibernates in mud bottom or under logs or other submerged debris, sometimes communally.

Conservation Threats: Water pollution, road mortality, habitat loss.

source: http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/Nongame/turtles/snapping_turtle.htm

Visitor Videos

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Maggie E.

Common Snapping Turtle 01
6/24/2024

About

Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
6/3/2024
Coon Rapids Mobile home park
Every year we see at least 2 turtles in one of the yards that are behind Coon Creek. Which my home is. Can't understand why they wander around in driveways & street.
Video by Maggie E.

Other Videos

The Snapping Turtle (Chelydridae: Chelydra serpentina) Locomotion
Carl Barrentine

About

Uploaded on Dec 26, 2009

A contemplative look at the Common Snapping Turtle, which is a surprisingly common but seldom seen species that is found in rivers, ponds, and lakes in the upper midwest of the United States. Specimens shown here were photographed in North Dakota during the summer of 2009.

Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
WisCBMnetwork

About

Published on Mar 13, 2013

No description available.

Snapping Turtle (Chelydridae: Chelydra serpentina) on Road
Carl Barrentine

About

Uploaded on May 30, 2010

Photographed near the Rydell NWR, Minnesota (27 May 2010).

Visitor Sightings

Report a sighting of this reptile.

This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.

Luciearl
5/4/2025

Common Snapping Turtle

Location: Fairview Twp.

R. Hill
8/30/2024

Common Snapping Turtle

Location: Mitchell Rd in Eden Prairie

Maggie E.
6/3/2024

Location: Coon Rapids Mobile home park

Every year we see at least 2 turtles in one of the yards that are behind Coon Creek. Which my home is. Can't understand why they wander around in driveways & street.

Pennie Burton
5/28/2024

Common Snapping Turtle

Location: Lake County, Penmarallter Campsite

Greg Watson
5/15/2023

Common Snapping Turtle

Location: Wagon Wheel Trail in La Crescent, MN.

Dan W. Andree
5/25/2023

Common Snapping Turtle

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

On the bank of a creek in Norman Co. Mn. Looks like it has a long neck. Neat big turtle.

Gloria Peterson
7/26/2022

Location: 106 Bottineau Ave NW Red Lake Falls

He has moss on back good size In my yard

Dan W. Andree
8/23/2021

Common Snapping Turtle

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

A large Snapping Turtle 8-23-21 at a shrinking pond in Norman Co. Mn. It has been raining this past week so maybe it will come back up a little. The big turtle was just kind of hanging out in that spot relaxing but alert. Pretty neat big turtle.

Lynn Rubey
10/28/2019

Common Snapping Turtle

Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

A front view or face to face with the Snapping Turtle. I gently picked it up and turned it over, it just lied there while I took my photos then turned it over. I stood guard while vehicles drove on by. Then I gently carried it to the side of the road and set it in the grass. I stopped on my way out to check on it and it was no longer there.

Lynn Rubey
8/9/2019

Common Snapping Turtle

Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

This Common Snapping Turtle was sun bathing on rocks across from the docks in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. Its' head was up when I approcahed the dock then it lowered it then raised it again it seemed to ejoy the warm sunny day.

Kirk Nelson
6/8/2019

Common Snapping Turtle

Location: Carver Park Reserve

Snapping turtle next to the bike path

Shari Vinje
6/4/2019

Common Snapping Turtle

Location: Esko, MN. My driveway near Midway River and Midway Creek.

Sunning itself.

Dan W. Andree
5/28/2019

Common Snapping Turtle

Location: between Twin Valley and Ada, Mn

I came across this snapping turtle on a county highway between Twin Valley and Ada, Mn. on May 28, 2019. It just sat on the road and I seen a couple vehicles go around it. I pulled into an approach and decided to try get it off the road so it wouldn’t get ran over. I figured it could possibly be a female heading to a certain spot to lay its eggs. Though not sure. Anyway all the while watching for any vehicles coming I gave a slight nudge to the turtle near its tail end. I just tried to slowly turn around toward me. I knew not to try pick one up and not having any luck getting it to move looked in the ditch and found a sturdy stick. I still had a time getting it off the road and at times pushed it a little with the stick. Anyway got it off the road into the ditch it was heading to. Snapping turtles kind of remind me of a reptile of back in the dinosaur days.

E. Martell
9/2/2018

Location: east shore of Clark Lake, Nisswa

30' up on a bluff above water's edge. 1 and 3/8" shell length, no sign of where it came from.

Carol Naber
9/11/2017

Location: Rice Creek North Regional Corridor, east of Prairie Ridge Dr. where Rice Creek Fields lead to Rice Creek

total of 4 approximately 1 inch snapping turtles observed 9/10 and 9/11 on black top walk path. Slightly sand covered and headed toward Rice Creek.

Lane Keller
7/29/2017

Common Snapping Turtle

Location: Bear Head Lake State Park

Several years ago, I almost landed on this big snapping turtle when I was jumping off the dock.

Kirk Nelson
5/29/2017

Common Snapping Turtle

Location: Fort Snelling State Park

On the trail along the west side of Snelling Lake; I gave it a wide berth.

Jenny Stevens
7/6/2015

Common Snapping Turtle

Location: Inver Grove Heights

Kirk Nelson
5/31/2014

Common Snapping Turtle

Location: Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Kirk Nelson
Fall, 2013

Location: Bass Ponds in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

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