There are more than 300 species. Snapping Turtle Snapping turtles are large aquatic freshwater reptiles that only live in North America. Some very fat captive snapping turtles get to be over 80 lbs.! American Snapping Turtle Facts. During winter, snapping turtles bury themselves in mud at the bottom of lakes or ponds and hibernate until spring. Alligator snapping turtle also live longer than common snapping turtles. Snapping turtles are found continuously in North America from eastern Canada and New England to the Rockies, and they are also found in pockets from Mexico and Central America to As all turtle biologists understand, the commercial harvest of adult turtles is not a sustainable venture, and although alligator snappers do appear to be recovering in a number of rivers throughout their range, the species remains vulnerable. One of the first things that you should know about an alligator snapping turtle before getting one as a pet is how long it lives. Life Span of Common Snapping Turtle. Alligator Snapping Turtle Distribution. Snapping turtle, either of several species of freshwater turtles (family Chelydridae) named for their method of biting. Alligator Snapping turtles live a very long time compared to other animals, so let's see exactly how long they live. I think that they live in water or close to water with their family. On average, these turtles grow to have a shell that's about 10-12 inches long and weigh from 10 to 35 lbs., but some get larger. Baby Snapping Turtles. The common snapping turtle is remarkably cold-tolerant; radiotelemetry studies have shown some individuals do not hibernate, but remain active under the ice during the winter. Unlike other turtles, however, the snapping turtle often remains in the water while doing this, floating at the surface. The prehistoric-looking alligator snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in North America and among the largest in the world. Why did the snapping turtle try to cross the road? While animals from some populations mature in five to seven years, many females require more than a decade to reach maturity, and some females are nearly 20 years old by the time they deposit their first clutch of eggs. Baby snapping turtles mostly live in ponds but if you are taking one from the wild then you should first but it in a tank. The common snapping turtle can actually live up to 30 years. In Japan there is a huge center where this species of Turtle is breed and … If you live in the U.S., you may have seen a red-eared slider. The Common Snapping Turtle tends to live … At this time of year, the answer is likely because it wanted to lay some eggs. From the time of hatching, it takes 11 to 13 years before a turtle becomes reproductively mature and can start the life cycle again. As we all know, getting a pet is a long time commitment, and some times that long time can be a little longer than we expected. Growth rates are somewhat consistent among immature individuals within a given population, whereas the growth rates of adults vary widely. Turtles, tortoises and terrapins are reptiles with protective shells. Why is it called a "snapping" turtle? The lives of these species are not threatened. How long do Alligator Snapping Turtles live? When young alligator snapping turtles hatch, they are two to three inches long and already look just like the adults. … They become less active as temperatures drop. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. There are only two species of snapping turtle that still exist, which are the Common Snapping Turtle and the Alligator Snapping Turtle. Conservation Status of Common Snapping Turtle. How big do they get? Hibernating snapping turtles do not breathe for, in the northern part of their range, … Author Animal Place Posted on March 20, 2012 May 17, 2012 Categories Ravenous Reptiles Tags Characteristics, Common Snapping Turtle: Facts, Habitat and More. Snapping turtles grow slowly. Though the question, “Where do turtles live?” may seem simple, the answer is quite broad. They live on land, in the ocean and in lakes and rivers. The Alligator Snapping Turtle is found in many locations around the United States. They only live in North America and there are of two categories that are the only existing ones. See also:What Do Baby Turtles Eat?Best Turtle Food ReviewsWhere Do Turtles Live Table of ContentsWhere You will Find Sea TurtlesAquatic Turtle … Depending upon their species, turtles can be found living in a number of habitats. They are also known to live in Asia and Europe but that is due to humans transporting them for the exotic pet trade. The American Snapping Turtle, commonly known as Snapping Turtles are often times libeled since people tend to believe that they are mean and have a scary look. These turtles are common in the Midwestern United States and parts of the South. Turtles live just about everywhere. Due to the life history of this long-lived, slow-to-mature turtle, full recovery to former population sizes is predicted to take a long time. Even if you do not live in these areas, you may have seen red-eared sliders for sale in pet stores, as they are one of … The common areas are Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, and Texas.