Biology of the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)

About this book

The name "snapping turtle" conjures up images of powerful, prehistoric-looking beasts that lurk in the dark waters of local swimming holes. Beyond its status as childhood legend, Chelydra serpentina is one of the most interesting reptiles of the New World. One of our largest turtles, this animal has a nasty bite, weighs up to thirty-five pounds, and can lay as many as one hundred eggs. Due to its wide distribution, abundance, and large reproductive output, the snapping turtle has become one of the most extensively studied species of reptiles.

This volume synthesizes all that is known about C. serpentina, the common snapping turtle, to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive resource on the species' evolution, physiology, behavior, and life history. A team of experts detail the systematics, energetics, growth patterns, sex determination, and population genetics of snapping turtles and devote special attention to the fossil record of the snapping turtle family Chelydridae.

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Biography

Anthony C. Steyermark is an assistant professor of biology at University of St. Thomas. Michael S. Finkler is an associate professor of biology at Indiana University. Ronald J. Brooks is a professor of zoology at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.