Difference between an Alligator Snapping Turtle and Common Snapping Turtle.

When most people find a snapping turtle they assume its an Alligator Snapping Turtle.  In reality Alligator Snapping Turtles are much rarer than Common Snapping Turtles so you are much more likely to find a Common Snapping Turtle.  There are some key difference to help you identify whether you have a Common Snapper or an Alligator Snapper.

Alligator Snapping Turtles have a larger head.  They also have a beak on the top of the mouth.  As you can see in the first photograph below, the Common Snapping Turtle has a small head and a small beak.

The next picture is the head of an Alligator Snapping Turtle and you can see the head is much larger and the beak is very pronounced.  Also around the eye the Alligator Snapping Turtle has growths that almost look like a star.

The Common Snapping Turtle has an almost flat shell with minor bumps.  The Alligator Snapping Turtle has sharp protruding spikes on it's back.

Both turtles have tail ridges.

The Alligator Snapping Turtle has a worm like appendage in it's mouth.  It uses this to catch small fish which it lures into it's mouth.

Both of these reptiles are found in the same areas.  They prefer creeks and small rivers.  They can be found in any body of fresh water.  The Alligator Snapping Turtle is endangered in some states and it is illegal to keep or kill one from the wild.  The Common Snapping Turtle is far more common.  Even though they look similar and share common names, the Alligator Snapping Turtle and the Common Snapping Turtle are not closely related.

The Common Snapping Turtle only gets to be around 50 pounds at the extremely high end with most only reaching 20 to 30 pounds.  The Alligator Snapping Turtle can get over 200 pounds and is the largest freshwater species.  

Both reptiles will eat almost anything they can get.  The Common Snapping Turtle will actively forage for food and eat carrion as well as live fish, crayfish and amphibians.  The Alligator Snapping Turtle is an ambush predator and will almost never forage for food.  They prefer to wait with their mouths open for a fish to swim in.  When a fish is within striking distance the Alligator Snapping Turtle will bite with lightning speed.

You should never handle these turtles unless you are careful.  Both can deliver a powerful bite that is capable of removing body parts.  Never pick the turtles up by their tails as this will hurt the spine and possibly kill the turtle.

This photograph of snapping turtles shows the difference between a Common and Alligator Snapping Turtle.

Here is a video of an Alligator Snapping Turtle.