Do not get a turtle is you are not willing to invest a lot of money in them. This is because the alligator snapping turtles can get a lot bigger than the common ones. I own three which I've had for several years and I have handled very large ones as well. People have been fascinated by reptiles from the beginning of our existence. The common snapping turtle is a rugged and muscular looking turtle. All Rights Reserved. Don't panic and don't try to pull off your finger immediately Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)One of the largest freshwater turtles. So, don’t bother snapping turtles — just leave them alone if you see them. Another notable difference: an alligator snapper can bite off a finger. Beavers, Love em or Hate em, They are Masters at Building, Got Leftover Game in the Freezer? What kind of snapping turtle and where is it from. Can turtles attack? If you ever get bitten by a snapping turtle, chances are it would not let go. It said Can a turtle really bite off a finger? Snapping turtle jaw strength—while nothing to sneeze at—is somewhat overrated. Common snapping turtles, found in every eastern state and most western ones, are often mistaken for their larger cousins and are indeed many times more common. Is It Cruel to Ear Crop and Tail Dock a Dog? Another was a well-publicized incident in Alabama in which an alligator snapper became the focal point of a bar bet: Can you reach into the turtle’s mouth and touch its tongue before its mouth snaps shut? Snapping turtles have a bite force of 208 newtons and their cousins, the alligator snapping turtles, have a slightly weaker bite force of 158 newtons. Small turtles usually don’t have enough power to break the skin of your finger, but the beak can be sharp so it might happen. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. But remember, snapping turtles have a sharp beak like mouth that can cut. The exception to this is snapping turtles that are kept in captivity that are commonly overfed, causing them to often become overweight. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. var rcel = document.createElement("script"); If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Collecting gatorsnappers for personal consumption is legal in Louisiana, and many private citizens make their own turtle stew from these big turtles that once served as a prime source for Campbell’s turtle soup. A common snapper is not capable of biting a finger off. A turtle biting off someone’s finger is certainly feasible. Scientific Name: Chelydra serpentina . When people think of pet turtles they typically envision smaller breeds like the eastern box turtle and western painted turtle. Yes, snapping turtles can bite your finger off, and there are numerous cases that have happened. Send environmental questions to ecoviews@gmail.com. Regional culture. Their tail, which is close to the length of their top shell, is covered in spiny sharp ridges. Even with protection in most states, their numbers are still declining in some areas. They look similar but differ in many ways. Many people fear that the turtle will snap at them, and that their bite will take off a finger or toe! Only the alligator snapping turtle can cause such severe damage. A finger is equally vulnerable when the jaws snap shut. Common Name(s): Common snapping turtle, common snapper . It was so scary. Most people who report seeing an alligator snapper have actually encountered a common snapper, an understandable error as both look fearsome common snappers will stand their ground and have a lightning fast strike. Common snapping turtles can inflict a very painful bite, but contrary to popular belief, the bite is not strong enough to tear a finger off a hand. There are a plethora of videos on the internet depicting the damage that these animals can cause. Another true story was from Louisiana where someone cut open an alligator snapping turtle and found a human finger in its stomach. What Breeds of Dogs Are Prone to Deafness. These giant freshwater turtles get bigger than some sea turtles, making them quite capable of biting off a human body part. A: A turtle biting off someone's finger is certainly feasible. Turtles do not make good children’s pets and are for responsible keepers only. They are quite large and can reach lengths of 20 inches (50 cm) in carapace length. It has a wide geographical range and as such, it isn’t uncommon to come across them. Make Jerky. This what an alligator snapping turtle can do to your fingers! See a tough guy turn into a wussy after his finger is bitten half off. The claws are about as sharp as those of dogs, but cannot be trimmed as can dog claws. Common snapping turtles, which sometimes reach more than 30 pounds, can bite a person and even leave a memorable scar, but they are small compared to … Physical Description: These turtles have a very small plastron connected to the carapace by a narrow bridge on each side of its body. The underhanded answer, like the one given for many wildlife questions, is “yes” and “no.” But a simple explanation provides clarification. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Can a snapping turtle really bite off a finger? So, to answer the original questions: Yes, an alligator snapper could bite off a person’s finger, and a turtle connoisseur in Louisiana could conceivably find it. Yes, snapping turtles can bite your finger off, and there are numerous cases that have happened. While some reptiles are relatively safe to keep as pets, it is a bad plan to hold others in the captivity of your home. One of the biggest ones being that they can bite human finger off if given the opportunity. Common snapping turtles, which sometimes reach more than 30 pounds, can bite a person and even leave a memorable scar, but they are small compared to alligator snappers. A close relative, the ALLIGATOR snapping turtle definitely is … Whit Gibbons is Professor Emeritus of Ecology, University of Georgia, and author of more than a dozen books on reptiles, including Their Blood Runs Cold: Adventures with Reptiles and Amphibians. Snapping turtles have a bite force of 208 newtons and their cousins, the alligator snapping turtles, have a slightly weaker bite force of 158 newtons. A snapping turtle bite is extremely agonizing. A common snapper is not capable of biting a finger off. Louisiana was the last state to place controls on the commercial removal of adult alligator snapping turtles from wild populations, but people are still permitted to catch one for private use. America’s two largest freshwater turtles are both snappers. Whit Gibbons is an ecologist and environmental educator with the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy, Don’t Overlook the Small Fields for Geese, Home Protection for Seniors? And if you keep your turtles in an outdoor enclosure and you walk through it with slippers on you can expect them to bite you thinking that your … Alligator snappers live in big rivers, large streams, and lakes from Texas to Georgia and reach the Midwest along the river borders of Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois. var rcds = document.getElementById("rcjsload_8b0be0"); It is only natural for them to use their bite and strength to “hunt” for food, even when they are kept in captivity. Some people use nets when capturing turtles, not realizing that the turtles can become ensnared in the net. Otherwise, they impose no harm. The answer given by James is nothing but a big lie, one after. Sometimes, a snapping turtle can catch two or three fish at a time! So, it’s best to leave them alone. How strong is the bite of a snapping turtle? Common snappers can reach 50 pounds, will bite a person in a heartbeat and even leave a memorable scar, but they are small compared to alligator snappers, one of the largest turtles in the world. Can a snapping turtle bite your hand off? The alligator snapper is the only turtle in the world to wiggle its tongue in front of fish as a lure. They are quite large and can reach lengths of 20 inches (50 cm) in carapace length. COMMON snapping turtles are capable of inflicting a painful bite, but they cannot tear off a finger or snap a broomstick in half. But, in reality, the Common Snapping Turtle is not aggressive at all. Yes, Mossberg 505 Youth Pump Gun. ALL TURTLES BITE. An adult Aligator snapping turtle can take your finger clean off and even tear chunks out of you. It is important to remember that when left in their natural habitat these animals are mighty hunters to many animals such as frogs, insects, worms, snakes, frogs, fish, smaller turtles, birds, small mammals, and crayfish. A: A turtle biting off someone’s finger is certainly feasible. I feel so bad now finding out that I shouldn’t pick the turtle up. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, in whole or part, without the prior written permission of Nature and Freedom Media, LLC. Another notable difference: an alligator snapper can bite off a finger. WTF Fun Fact – Snapping Turtles Bite March 8, 2020 Common snapping turtles have no teeth but they can produce 1000 PSI bite force with their sharp beak and firm jaws, which is more than enough to bite off a finger. Should anglers be concerned when a big turtle is on the other end of the line instead of a fish? His most recent book is Snakes of the Eastern United States. The alligator snapper has a shell with three ridges and a smooth tail. An alligator snapping turtle’s beak is capable of slicing fingers clean off and (as the above video proves) obliterating pineapples. Yes, snapping turtles can bite your finger off, and there are numerous cases that have happened. One of our favorite wildlife YouTube channels, Coyote Peterson decided to put this claim to the test using a latex hand. It is believed that the bite force of the alligator snapping turtle is strong enough to snap a broomstick in half. Are alligator snapping turtles dangerous? In the wild, they rarely exceed 35 pounds. rcel.type = 'text/javascript'; It is powerful enough to cut the finger. And the fact that they have a … ! Snapping turtles are known to be highly aggressive animals. Can a snapping turtle bite your finger off? (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:11750944220343654,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-184-1956"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.lockerdomecdn.com/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); One confirmed alligator snapper casualty was a commercial turtle trapper in Georgia who now has only nine fingers. This turtle was not acting aggressively. This is the cause of many snapping turtles that have been held in captivity being released back into the wild as they approach adulthood. The Alligator Snapping turtle has a 300 pound bite! The part about cutting the turtle open is also believable, especially in Louisiana, because of certain … The possibility of finding a human body part while cutting a turtle open to clean it for the stew pot is not at all out of the question. While there have been no reported cases of snapping turtles actually biting fingers off, there are nightmarish stories of snapping turtles biting and latching onto people’s faces and hands. The common snapping turtle can be found from southeastern Canada all the way down to Florida. If there is one creature in North America that has a face that only a mother could love, it's the alligator snapping turtle, also known as "macroclemys temminckii" in the scientific realm.This animal is the largest freshwater turtle in the United States, and it has a large head and powerful jaws that will intimidate anyone. Adults often weigh over 100 pounds. but we still got back in the water and swam home. Are Snapping turtles dangerous? Snapping turtles are the largest freshwater turtles that can be found in North America. Common snappers are dark brown to tan in color. These giant turtles are about the only U.S. reptile besides alligators capable of biting off a human body part. The fingers can get accidentally bitten when you feed them with your hand. Our site uses cookies. COMMON snapping turtles are capable of inflicting a painful bite, but they cannot tear off a finger or snap a broomstick in half. Its neck is very flexible, and a wild turtle can bite its handler even if picked up by the sides of its shell. This can this cause a threat to the turtle as well as the person handling it when the time comes to cut the netting away. This is because the alligator snapping turtles can get a lot bigger than the common ones. And why might someone discover a finger in a turtle? They have a hard shell covering both their back and stomach that protects them in the wild. Sometimes people think they have a snapping turtle and it’s just a little box turtle. Alligator snapping turtles are fast disappearing but remain one of America’s most magnificent reptiles, even though human fingers may not be safe around them. Between the two species, the bite of an alligator snapping turtle is definitely more powerful and dangerous than the bite of a common snapping turtle. An adult alligator snapping turtle, a freshwater species that occurs in Louisiana, can do that. Being bitten by a large common snapper does indeed hurt and can leave a scar. If you ever get bitten by a snapping turtle, chances are it would not let go. (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:11750945663184230,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-3415-5317"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.lockerdomecdn.com/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); (function() { While toad-headed turtles have the strongest bites of any turtle, with a force of 432 newtons, the snapping turtle and snapping turtles are both still very serious threats to the animal kingdom. An alligator turtle can slice your fingers off with just a single bite. Adults often weigh over 100 pounds. Turtles lack teeth, but the cutting edge of the mouth of a massive alligator snapper is a formidable biting tool comparable to heavy- duty loppers. })(); Copyright © 2020 Nature and Freedom Media, LLC. But the jaw muscle strength and severing edge cannot compare with an adult alligator snapper. In addition to a strong beak, they have sharp claws that they can use to fight off predators in the wild. In the wild, an alligator snapper sits on the river bottom with its mouth open, wiggling its bright red tongue like a worm as a lure for fish, a behavior found in no other turtle in the world. Put this claim to the test using a latex hand a mouth that can a common snapping turtle bite your finger off cut s mouth backed research. The jaws snap shut fingers can get bitten by a snapping turtle bite. It let it go angler who hasn ’ t uncommon to come across them doc in the.. 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