Snapping turtles are large, strong, and famous for their powerful jaws and long tails. They usually live in freshwater habitats like rivers, lakes, and ponds.

There are five living species of snapping turtle: the South American snapping turtle, the Central American snapping turtle, the common snapping turtle, the Suwannee snapping turtle, and the alligator snapping turtle.

On land, snapping turtles are mostly slow, but in water, they’re excellent swimmers. Their shells are hard, but rough and ridged rather than smooth. They can be very protective and may snap if they feel threatened—that’s how they got their name.

Snapping turtles eat fish, frogs, insects, plants, and sometimes even small birds. They usually hide underwater, waiting quietly for prey to come close.