A baby snapping turtle, or hatchling, is born with the innate ability to navigate aquatic environments. Hatchlings are highly aquatic and instinctively move directly toward the nearest body of water upon leaving their underground nest, a behavior that ensures their survival in the wild.
Aquatic Capabilities of Hatchlings
Snapping turtle hatchlings are accomplished swimmers, though their technique and stamina differ significantly from adults. These small turtles use all four limbs to propel themselves through the water in a somewhat less efficient manner than a mature turtle. Their first priority upon reaching the water is to find cover, as they remain highly vulnerable to predators until their shells harden and they increase in size.
Their small size and soft shells limit their ability to handle strong currents or deep, open water. Hatchlings prefer shallow, slow-moving aquatic environments, such as marsh edges, ditches, and pond banks. They are poor swimmers compared to other turtle species and can easily become exhausted or drown in water that is too deep or fast-moving. Once in their preferred shallow habitat, they often rely on benthic movement, walking along the bottom substrate to hide or forage, rather than active swimming.
Essential Habitat Needs
The survival of a hatchling depends on a habitat that accommodates their need for security, thermoregulation, and ease of movement. Water depth is important; the water should ideally be no deeper than the length of the turtle’s shell. This allows them to easily reach the surface to breathe or the bottom to rest, as they spend much of their time lying in wait, often buried in soft mud or leaf litter for camouflage.
Snapping turtles are highly aquatic, but they still require access to a dry land area for occasional basking. Although they may not bask as frequently as other turtles, a haul-out spot with a heat source, such as a sunny bank or a heated artificial basking lamp, is necessary for proper metabolism. Providing dense aquatic vegetation and soft substrate, like mud or silt, gives them the necessary hiding places.
Key Differences Between Snapping Turtle Species
Snapping turtles encountered in North America are one of two species: the Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) or the Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii). The geographic range offers the first clue, as the Common Snapper is widespread across much of eastern North America, while the Alligator Snapper is restricted to the southeastern United States in Gulf draining rivers.
Hatchling Common Snappers have three low ridges, or keels, on their carapace that tend to smooth out as the turtle matures. In contrast, the Alligator Snapping Turtle hatchling maintains three distinct, pronounced keels or spikes down the length of its shell. The Alligator Snapper also has a noticeably larger, more triangular head with a strongly hooked beak compared to the Common Snapper’s more rounded head.