Snapping turtles and tortoises are often confused due to their shared reptilian characteristics and protective shells. However, they are distinct animals with fundamental differences in their biology and lifestyles. While all tortoises are technically a type of turtle, not all turtles are tortoises, and snapping turtles clearly fall into the “turtle” category rather than the “tortoise” one. This distinction is crucial for understanding their unique adaptations and ecological roles.
The Snapping Turtle
Snapping turtles are large, freshwater turtles belonging to the family Chelydridae. They have a rough, often ridged shell that can range from brown to black. Their powerful jaws, equipped with a hooked beak, are capable of delivering a strong bite. They possess strong, clawed legs and a long tail, which often has ridges.
Snapping turtles primarily inhabit permanent freshwater bodies such as ponds, lakes, swamps, and slow-moving rivers, preferring shallow, calm waters with soft, muddy bottoms and abundant aquatic vegetation. While highly aquatic, they do leave the water to nest and occasionally bask. Their diet is omnivorous, consisting of almost anything they can find, whether alive or dead, including fish, insects, amphibians, small mammals, birds, and various aquatic plants. They are known for their aggressive temperament, especially when out of water, and primarily hunt by ambush, camouflaging themselves in the mud.
The Tortoise
Tortoises are exclusively land-dwelling reptiles that belong to the family Testudinidae. They are easily recognized by their distinct physical characteristics, which include a high-domed, heavy shell that provides substantial protection. Their legs are thick and columnar, often described as “elephantine,” with blunt, unwebbed feet and short, strong claws, adapted for terrestrial locomotion and digging.
Tortoises inhabit a variety of terrestrial environments, ranging from deserts and grasslands to shrublands and forest floors across most continents, excluding Australia and Antarctica. They are predominantly herbivorous, with their diet consisting mainly of grasses, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds. Tortoises are known for their slow, deliberate movements on land and for digging burrows to escape extreme temperatures.
How to Tell Them Apart
Their shells offer a primary clue: snapping turtles have flatter, more streamlined shells, often with a rough or ridged texture, and a smaller plastron that does not fully cover their bodies, preventing full retraction. In contrast, tortoises possess highly domed, robust shells that are often segmented, providing superior protection, and they can fully withdraw into their shells.
The structure of their limbs and feet also varies. Snapping turtles have strong, clawed legs with webbed feet, ideal for swimming. Tortoises feature thick, elephantine legs and blunt, unwebbed feet with strong claws, suited for walking on land and digging burrows.
Their natural habitats further differentiate them; snapping turtles are primarily aquatic, spending most of their lives in freshwater. Tortoises are exclusively terrestrial, never truly entering water, and cannot swim effectively.
Diet is another distinguishing factor: snapping turtles are omnivorous, consuming a wide range of animal and plant matter. Tortoises are almost entirely herbivorous, feeding on vegetation.
Behaviorally, snapping turtles are known for aggressive defensive strikes using their powerful jaws. Tortoises, when faced with danger, typically withdraw into their protective shells.
While both vary in size, snapping turtles can weigh between 10 to 35 pounds, with some reaching over 175 pounds. Some tortoises can grow considerably larger, with species weighing hundreds of pounds.