Introduction to the species of alligator snapping turtles (pictures)

This creature is rumored to be the most powerful turtle on earth, and some people still like to keep it! The following is an introduction to the species of snapping turtles and small snapping turtles.

Introduction to the species of the Alligator snapping turtle (picture)

Family name: Alligatoridae

Family and genus classification: Turtles; suborder Hymenorhinidae; Snake-necked turtles; Pseudomonas snapping turtles; Common snapping turtle

Chinese name: Common snapping turtle

Common name: small snapping turtle, flat-back snapping turtle

English name: Common snapping turtle

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Latin name: Chelydra serpentina

Genus name: Chelydra

Food habits: Snapping turtles have a miscellaneous food habit and are carnivorous, with their staple food being fish, shrimp, frogs, salamanders, Small snakes, ducks, and water birds occasionally eat aquatic plants and fallen fruits. Likes to exercise and eat at night.

Species classification

Snapping turtles belong to the phylum Chordata, the subphylum Vertebrata, the class Reptilia, the subclass Chelonia, and the turtles Testudormes, Cryptodira, Chelydridae. The name of the big snapping turtle: Macroclemys temmincki, English name: Alligator Snapping Turtle; the name of the small snapping turtle: Chelydra Serpentina sap., the English name: Common Snapping Turtle, the four subspecies of the small snapping turtle are: 1) Chelydra acutirostris South American snapping turtle , also known as the false snapping turtle; 2) Chelydra osceola Florida snapping turtle, which can grow to 17 inches and weigh 45 pounds; 3) Chelydra rossignonii Sino-American snapping turtle, also known as the snapping turtle; 4) Chelydra serpentina North American snapping turtle Snapping turtle, also known as knocking turtle.

The snapping turtle is also considered an invasive alien species in Asia. Especially in China, where artificial breeding of small snapping turtles for consumption is currently being promoted, many individuals have escaped from artificial breeding farms.To the wilderness. Therefore, we must prevent the release of snapping turtles just like we stopped the release of snapping turtles in Brazil. Although the scale is not as serious as Brazil, it still requires attention. In the near future, snapping turtles will become the second generation of "Brazil" that harms China's ecological environment, and these "Brazil" are often large enough to cause harm to humans.

Adult snapping turtles are impatient in nature and can actively attack people, while larvae are more gentle. When someone or something comes and goes in front of the turtle, the turtle first retracts its head into the shell, waits for the right opportunity, suddenly stretches out its face to bite, and then retracts its head into the shell again, repeating this process several times. The plastron of the snapping turtle is smaller, only half the size of the carapace. When crawling, use your hands and feet to hold yourself up, and your stride distance is large and your speed is fast. The snapping turtle has a strong ability to escape. It can climb objects with its front legs and rely on its two hind legs and tail. The turtle can stand upright and climb trees, rough walls and cement surfaces. Therefore, attention should be paid to preventing the turtle from escaping. The height of the container should be 2 to 3 times the total length of the turtle's body (distance from head to tail). Under artificial breeding conditions, the water quality is low because the container is small and the water surface is not wide. The feces and residual bait eliminated by the turtles are all in the water, and the water quality is easily contaminated. Long-term feeding can easily cause turtle diseases, such as gastroenteritis, skin diseases, etc. When raising snapping turtles in containers, you need to change the water frequently, clean the container, and disinfect regularly. Before changing the water, check the quality of the tap water. If the water has a strong pungent smell, it means that the water contains high chlorine and should not be used. Snapping turtles tend to bite each other, so they should not be kept in groups in small spaces.

Suitable temperature range

Normal survival is between 2℃ and 38℃. It can survive the winter normally above 1℃. It enters a shallow dormant state below 12℃. It enters a deep dormant state at 6℃. It enters a deep dormant state at 15℃~ A little exercise at 17℃, normal feeding above 18℃, best exercise and foraging at 20℃~33℃, best growth at 28℃~30℃, little movement above 34℃, hiding in the bottom of the water and in the sand to escape the heat.

Size and maximum record: The newborn size of the giant snapping turtle is 8~10g, the common adult size is 61~76cm, 77~91kg, the maximum record is 79cm, 107kg (Brookfield Zoo, Chicago, USA); the baby snapping turtle has a balanced newborn size The shell length is 3.3cm and the body weight is 7.2g (minimum 3.1cm, 5.8g, maximum 3.7cm, 14.8g). The average adult body has a shell length of 31~46cm and a body weight of 23~36kg. In nature, the largest individual can reach 38kg. above. Different from ordinary turtle eggs (elliptical), small snapping turtle eggs are spherical, white, 23~33mm in diameter, and each egg weighs 7~15g.

Lifespan

It is suitable for about 45 to 50 years under artificial care, but can only reach about 15 to 30 years in the wild environment!

Shape characteristics

The upper jaw of a small snapping turtle is hook-shaped, but the hook is small and there are only a few tentacles. The carapace is brown or dark brown, with three longitudinal ridges and ribs. The shield is slightly raised, and the ridges gradually wear away over time. The plastron is gray-white, with no upper edge shield, and the tail is slightly short. The most obvious feature is that there is a zigzag ridge on the back of the tail., also called tail spine.

Identification of males and females

The female’s carapace is square, with a thinner tail base, and the genital pore is closer to the rear edge of the carapace. The male’s carapace is rectangular, with a thick and thick tail base. Long, the genital pore is far from the posterior edge of the carapace. In addition to the above characteristics, if the genital pore is located within the first hard spine of the tail or flush with the first hard spine of the tail, it is a female, while if the genital pore is located other than the first hard spine of the tail, it is a male. The male is larger, with a long tail, the length is 86% of the length of the plastron, and the cloaca is located at the edge of the carapace; the female, on the contrary, has a short tail, the length is less than 86% of the length of the plastron, and the cloaca is located at the edge of the carapace. within.

Living habits

The basic customs of large snapping turtles and small snapping turtles are similar. They are often not aggressive in water, but can charge and bite on land. Large snapping turtles can turn their heads to suddenly attack other animals, while small snapping turtles can turn their heads and turn with their entire body to find the target of attack, and even bite them. It has webbed fingers and toes and is aquatic. It inhabits deep rivers, lakes, swamps, and occasionally comes into contact with salt water areas. Under the conditions of artificial breeding, snapping turtles have good adaptability to both shallow and deep water. However, due to their weak swimming ability in the hatchling stage, they should be given a shallow water environment. Body size: The average newborn snapping turtle has a shell length of 3.3cm and a body weight of 7.2g (minimum 3.1cm, 5.8g, maximum 3.7cm, 14.8g). Generally, the adult body has a shell length of 31~46cm and a body weight of 23~36kg. In nature, In the world, the largest individual can reach more than 38kg.

Growth methods

The mating period of small snapping turtles is from April to November in the United States, and the egg-laying period is from May to August in the harsh areas of the Yangtze River in China (high temperatures The egg-laying time can be advanced and extended in different regions), and 15 to 40 eggs are generally laid frequently. The actual condition changes according to the size and development level of the parent turtle.

The mating period is from April to September every year, the spawning period is from May to November, and June is the peak season. There are 11-83 eggs in each clutch, often 20-30 eggs. The eggs are white, spherical, slightly rough on the surface, 23-33 mm in diameter, and weigh 7-15 grams. After 55-125 days of incubation, the hatchlings hatch out of their shells, with different hatching conditions and different days of hatching. When the incubation temperature is above 30°C, the hatchlings are female when the temperature is below 20°C, and when the incubation temperature is between 22°C and 28°C, the hatchlings are male. The juvenile turtle weighs 9.5-12 grams, and the carapace is 24-30 mm long. The carapace is round and black, with protrusions on each scute.


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