How to identify baby snapping turtles

Little snapping turtle How to identify
Little snapping turtles

Little snapping turtles are the new breed of turtles recently because of their domineering appearance. , very much like dinosaurs from ancient times, so more and more people are flocking to them. However, there is also a problem: some people search blindly, but do not understand how to identify small snapping turtles, and then buy other turtles. substitute. The following will teach you how to identify baby snapping turtles.

The small snapping turtle is a species in the family Alligatoridae, referred to as snapping turtle, also known as alligator turtle, meat turtle, American snake turtle, etc. It is native to North America and China. In the rivers and lakes of America, meat is the staple food. It is an aquatic turtle species. Our country introduced it from the United States in 1996 and has successfully bred it.

The characteristics of small snapping turtles are extraordinary. You can distinguish them by careful observation and avoid being deceived by unscrupulous merchants. The color of adult turtles is tan or brown-black, mainly brown, while juvenile turtles are similar to black; the carapace is wide and round, with a length-to-width ratio close to 4:3; the plastron is very small, with an area of ​​only about 1/3 of the carapace, and is "Ten" shape, this ratio and shape is relatively rare among turtles; after the head of a small snapping turtle is fully extended, the length from beginning to end can be roughly divided into three equal parts, that is, the head, body, and tail each account for 1/3 ; The head cannot be fully retracted, and the tail is thick at the base and thin at the tip, and decreases rapidly from thick to thin; the hands and feet are strong and strong, the nails are barely crisp, and there are webs between the toes. When crawling, the hands and feet are propped up, and the head Extending flat, the speed is slightly faster than other turtle species; after the turtle body is submerged in the water, it will surface after a while and breathe through the nostrils; when an adult snapping turtle encounters a crisis, it will quickly raise its head and glare. Look at it, open its mouth, let out a strong breath, and shout "HangHang" to warn the other party. If the warning fails, it will raise its head and bite. The action is quick and brave. Once it bites, it will not stop for a long time; when escaping from the melon wall, , used to climb with high limbs, erect hind limbs, and use the tail to support and assist, so the climbing ability is strong. The muscles of the little snapping turtle are full and developed, especially the legs. If measured by hand, the whole body is heavy, giving people a "hand-pressing" feeling, which is difficult to compare with other turtle species.

Another distinctive feature of the snapping turtle is its unique carapace and tail. There are three rows of neatly arranged obvious scutes on the carapace. There are two rows of clearly visible spines on both sides of the central row. The intersection point is at the intersection of the two scutes and radiates dense rays into the scutes; The margin of the head is bounded by the tail, and the arrangement has 4 sides.This symmetrical jagged piece has a blunt tip and is not as sharp as the ground turtle. There is a row of prominent protruding crests in the center of the tail. Except for the first one, the crests are all arranged in order from high to short towards the tip of the tail, just like the crests on the back and tail of a crocodile, hence the name of the alligator turtle.


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