Hobbies And Interests

Facts on the Female Snapping Turtle

There are two main types of snapping turtles found in the United States: the alligator snapping turtle and the common snapping turtle. Both species are similar, although the alligator snapping turtle is larger and more common in the southern United States. There are several interesting facts about female snapping turtles.
  1. Reproduction

    • Female snapping turtles take one to two years longer to reach sexual maturity than males -- a total of four to six years. A female snapping turtle can lay up to 50 eggs. These eggs take about four months to hatch, so the female snapping turtle buries them to prevent predators from eating them.

    Temperature

    • The gender of some reptiles is determined by the temperature their eggs are incubated, and snapping turtles are no exception. A temperature of at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit is needed for the eggs to hatch; temperatures above 85 degrees will produce female snapping turtles and temperatures in the low 80s will produce males.

    Behavior

    • Female snapping turtles can be more aggressive than males when it is nesting season. Another reason female snapping turtles may be aggressive if provoked is because unlike other turtles, snapping turtles cannot hide their head in their shell to protect themselves.

    Finding Snapping Turtles

    • Snapping turtles usually live in isolated areas near water where there are few humans. However, female snapping turtles will travel to lay their eggs, so if you ever come across a snapping turtle it is probably a female that wants to lay her eggs. If the turtle is on a road and in danger, pick it up by the sides of its shell and put it on the other side of the road where it was facing, but otherwise leave them alone.


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