The Invasive Species of Eastern Snapping Turtle

Eastern Snapping Turtle, or Chelydra Serpentina:

Chelydra- Greek - chelys-turtle, and hydros- water serpent- the aquatic nature.

Serpentina- Latin - serpentina snake-like - the snake like neck.

Kingdom: Animalia

Domain: Eukaryota

The Eastern Snapping Turtle's native home is on the eastern side of The United States.

Invader's description:

Males usually grow larger than females. Average

weight is 45 lbs, some have weighed in over 75 lbs.

Big head and hooked jaw with a saw-toothed crest.

8 to 18.5 inces long in shell length.

The shell ranges from colors black,

brown, olive or tan. Often covered in

mud or algea.

Large legs with webbed toes and heavy claws. (not shown in this picture, however will be in the next picture. )

Above picture from:

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=1226

The most common way the invader uses to get into its new habitat is simply by being and owners pet. People bring Eastern Snapping Turtles to the new habitat and let them go free.

Hide out:

Prezi provided the above photo in the search of:

Eastern snapping turtle

Eastern Snapping turtles are found near wanter. Most of them are only active at night mostly in sothern parts of its range.

More active during the day in its northern part of its range.

Usually found basking in the sun or under the surface of the water. Sometimes buried in mud with eyes and nostils exposed out of the water.

This invader is found in almost any type of fresh water. Marshes ponds, lakes, rivers, and slow streams.

like the above photo:

Above picture is from:

http://hungryhyaena.blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html

Organism's M.O., weapons, and damage done:

Invader attacks with its sharp, heavy claws and strong jaw.

The invaders hard shell protects the turtle from attacks. The shell is also covered in mud or algea for camouflage.

Eastern Snapping Turltles are omnivorous, eating almost anything that fits into its jaws.

Snails, earthworms, shrimp, crayfish, insects, fish, frogs, salamanders, reptiles, small turtles,

snakes birds, mammals, plants, and carrion are just a few.

Which means this invasive species could be doing some damage to the native food chain.

above picture from:

http://www.sciencenewsline.com/nature/2011020212000050.html

June is the usual month for egg-laying. Females dig a nest in deep sand or loose soil and deposits aroung 20-30 eggs.

Eggs hatch 55-125 days later, depending on enviornmental conditions.

above picture from:

http://logs.thatpetplace.com/thatreptileblog/2008/6/05/the-snapping-turtle-chelydra-serpentina-%E2%80%93-part-i-natural-history-and-behavior-in-the-wild-with-notes-on-size-records/

Males become mature in 4-5 years, and females in 4-7.

Mating can take place between April and November, however mostly in late spring and early summer.

Annotated sources consulted:

[Anonymous]. 2000. Chelydra Serpentina-Serpentina - Eastern snapping turtle. Available

from: www.Californiaherps.com/turtles/pages/c.s.serpentina.html. Accessed on

2011 Sep 29. This source includes the snapping turtle's description and its usual

hide out. The snapping turtle eats and how it harms. This source tells me where the

hide out is, weapons, and description. Also what the two names of the turtle are and its

specific native species. I can trust this source because it used common information.

I trusted this source because many other sites resated facts that this one already

said, such as its hide out and weapons.

Fuller P., Foster A. 2009 October 28. Chelydra Serpentina Serpentina. Available from:

Http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?specialID==1226. Accessed

on: 2011 November 20. The intorduction of the Eastern Snapping Turtle,

sighting in different locations and times are in this article. Also, where its

native home is, is in this source. This has the life cycle, native home, and how

the animal invaded. The sightings and time of where its invaded are included I trust

this source because it has a lot of links of where the author had gotten their

information. And the facts and statements are true judging by the other pages

I have read.

[Anonymous]. Field Guide to Mayland's Turtles. Available from:

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/Plants_Wildlife/herps/Testudines/

EasernSnappingTurtle.asp. Accessed on: 2011 Decmber 12. This source

states the size and habitat of the snapping turtle. The description and native

habitat is in this source. Also where it can normally br found is important in

this source too. I trust this source because I have read many of the same things

on other pages. I chose this site to trust because its a official site.

Nicole Jacobson

Period 4

1/10/12

Eastern Snapping Turtle

Thank you for watching!

Life Cycle

The Eastern Snapping Turtle

Prezi has provided this picture through a search:

Eastern snapping turtle

Tail is longer than half

the shells length.