When one thinks of a turtle, it is always as a wise and ancient being which is peaceful and lives in its own shell, literally and figuratively. Along comes the snapping turtle to prove that there is an exception to every rule.

Some quick facts about snapping turtles are:

• The scientific name of snapping turtle is Chelydra Serpentina.

• An average snapping turtle can be between 8 and 18 inches long and 20 kgs in weight.

• Snapping turtles are dark coloured, have webbed feet, long tails and powerful hooked jaws.

• Snapping turtles are shy in water and aggressive on land.

• They hunt and feed underwater during the day and are mostly surface in the night. They are not fussy about their food and can eat anything from seaweed, fish eggs and tadpoles, insects and leeches, worms and snails, baby ducks and baby mammals and even dead animals.

• Underwater, snapping turtles bury themselves in the sand with only eyes and nose exposed and surprises their prey this way. The end of their tongue has a worm like shape and can be used to attract fish to them.

• To protect themselves of their babies they can release a foul smell from under its body.

• In the food chain, turtles helps by controlling the fish population but are eaten by bigger predators including human beings who eat turtle soups and stews.

• Though snapping turtles have a shell, the part covering their stomach i.e. plastron is small and so they cannot hide in there shell as a defence mechanism.

• Snapping turtles are mostly found in Canada and America. They are supposed to be Virginia’s largest turtle.

• They like living in muddy areas with aquatic plants so they can hide easily and they lay their eggs in sandy soil.

• A snapping turtle lays 30 to 40 eggs at a time of which very few survive as they are hunted by bigger prey. Those who survive can live up to 30 to 40 years which is much more than a normal turtle.

• They are solitary animals and do not interact with other beings. Sometimes male turtle fight over food, area or for mating with female turtles.

• Snapping turtles communicate to each other through leg movement.

• They can sense vibrations in water and usually use their sense of sight, smell and touch for hunting and other purposes.

• Snapping turtles eliminate competition in other turtles by biting their heads off.

• Snapping turtle shell was used in many ceremonies by Native Americans. They were dried and corn kernels were placed inside them so that they rattled.

• Originally, it was assumed, that there is only one species of snapping turtle, however another species called Alligator snapping turtle has also been discovered.

Although they are not considered an endangered species, any sort of threat to their natural habitats poses a danger to them as well. Once they reach their full size not many animals can threaten a snapping turtle on land as they are vicious and fight violently. This is only to protect them as they don’t have all self defence mechanisms that a normal turtle has with their shell.