Discovering the Largest Common Snapping Turtle in the US

The common snapping turtle is one of the largest freshwater turtles in North America, with some individuals reaching an impressive weight of over 70 pounds and a shell length of up to 19 inches.

These massive turtles can be found in freshwater habitats throughout the US, including rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

Their large size is due in part to their slow metabolism, which allows them to conserve energy and survive on a diet of aquatic plants and animals.

The largest common snapping turtle ever recorded in the US was found in Illinois, measuring an incredible 17.5 inches in length and weighing 83.8 pounds.

The largest common snapping turtle can grow up to 18.5 inches in carapace length, with some individuals reaching an impressive 90 pounds in weight.

On average, a common snapper's carapace length is around 11.2 inches, and its weight ranges from 8.8 to 35.2 pounds.

Males are generally larger than females, with normal male mass often exceeding 22 pounds.

The shell of a common snapping turtle is dark in color, ranging from black to dark brown or tan, while the underside, or plastron, is lighter in color.

The plastron barely covers the extremities, and the turtle's limbs, tail, and neck are yellowish in color, while the head is dark.

A common snapping turtle's long neck can bend backward, allowing it to reach behind and bite if you touch the shell near the head or sides.

Here is a summary of the largest common snapping turtle's characteristics:

The size of common snapping turtles can vary, but they generally grow to 10 to 18.5 inches in carapace length, with males being larger than females.

On average, common snappers weigh between 8.8 to 35.2 pounds, with males weighing over 22 pounds. In some cases, they can reach up to 90 pounds, as seen in the largest recorded common snapping turtle.

Here are some key size statistics for common snapping turtles:

It's worth noting that the largest alligator snapping turtle, a male, reached a length of 29 inches and a weight of 249 pounds, making it significantly larger than the common snapping turtle.

A whopping 57 pounds is the weight of the massive snapping turtle that's now the official state record in Virginia. This behemoth of a turtle was caught by a nuisance wildlife trapper named Winston Marshall in the James River.

In fact, the common snappers found in Virginia typically weigh around 25 to 30 pounds, making the Godzilla turtle a remarkable exception. This turtle's size is a testament to the incredible diversity of wildlife in the eastern United States.

The Godzilla turtle was carefully weighed and measured at Green Top Sporting Goods in Ashland, Virginia, with witnesses present to confirm the record. The store's certified scales were used to get an accurate reading.

The Virginia Division of Wildlife Resources announced the new record on social media, with a Facebook post thanking the folks at Green Top Sporting Goods for their help in verifying the record. The agency also mentioned that the turtle was released back into the wild to continue prowling the waters of Curles Neck Plantation.

Readers also liked: Green Haired Turtle

A 45-pound snapping turtle was caught on the Arkansas River near Haven, Kansas, setting a new state record.

The turtle's 16-inch uppershell made it the largest recorded in the state, beating the old weight record by ten pounds.

Common snapping turtles can live up to 40 years in the wild, with some specimens documented to live even longer.

They are highly aquatic and rarely venture onto land except to bask or lay eggs.

Female snapping turtles can travel as far as 10 miles to find a suitable site to lay eggs in late spring.

The sex of common snapping turtles is determined by the temperature at which the eggs incubate, with cooler or warmer temperatures producing females.

Related reading: Common Snapping Turtle Eggs

The largest Common Snapping Turtle on record weighed a whopping 90 pounds (41 kg). This massive turtle was part of the Chelydra Serpentina species, which is found in North America.

A Common Snapping Turtle's carapace, or upper shell, typically measures between 10 to 18.5 inches (25 to 47 cm) in length. The largest Common Snapping Turtle on record had a carapace length of 18.5 inches (47 cm).

Male Common Snapping Turtles tend to be larger than females, with normal male mass ranging from over 22 pounds (10 kg). In fact, the largest female Common Snapping Turtle on record weighed 35.2 pounds (16 kg).

Here's a comparison of the largest Common Snapping Turtles and Alligator Snapping Turtles:

The largest Alligator Snapping Turtle on record was a male that measured 29 inches in length and weighed 249 pounds (113 kg).

To create a suitable living space for a large turtle like Big Snap, good lighting is essential. Good water quality is also crucial, and this is achieved through an excellent filtration system in his tank.

We remove any uneaten food as soon as possible to keep the water clean. The aquarium is 600 gallons, providing ample space for him to move around, despite his relatively low activity level.

A fresh viewpoint: Largest Salt Water Crocodile

Giant Snapping Turtles are incredibly rare, with only 160 out of 84,000 recorded weighing 50 pounds or more.

Out of those 160, a staggering 22 were collected from a single lake in a single day. That's a disturbing trend.

A 67-pound Snapping Turtle held the record for the largest wild-caught snapper until a 76.5-pound individual was discovered.

In fact, the largest Snapping Turtle on record weighed 76.5 pounds.

All of the 50+ pound Snapping Turtles were males, while the heaviest female on record weighed a much smaller 44 pounds.

That's a significant size difference, with males potentially weighing over 200 pounds, while females rarely exceed 70 pounds.

Designing a suitable living space for a turtle requires careful consideration of its needs. Good lighting is a must for keeping any turtle.

Good water quality is also essential, which is why a tank with an excellent filtration system is a great idea. Removing uneaten food as soon as possible keeps the water clean.

A turtle may not be very active, but it's still important to have plenty of space for it to move around. The aquarium that Big Snap calls home is a spacious 600 gallons.

A ledge or basking area can be a great addition to a turtle's tank, providing a comfortable spot for it to hang out. Big Snap seems to enjoy hanging out under his ledge.

Additional reading: Big Cypress Fox Squirrel

Urban Snapping Turtles can thrive in urban and suburban situations if left undisturbed.

Large Snappers have been spotted in unexpected places, such as near the Bronx River and on the grounds of the Bronx Zoo.

I've seen two huge males, one weighing 49 pounds, near the Reptile House, where he recovered from an injured jaw.

Another male, around 45 pounds, was taken to Social Tee's Animal Rescue in the East Village, NYC, where it caused quite a stir among passersby.

Several of the largest Snapping Turtles I've seen were taken from surprisingly small bodies of water on Long Island, NY.