Eastern Snapping Turtle

Common Name:	Eastern Snapping Turtle
Scientific Name:	Chelydra serpentina serpentina
Etymology:
Genus:	*Chelydra* is derived from the Greek word chelydra which means "tortoise".
Species:	*serpentina* is derived from the Latin word serpentis meaning "snake". Referring to the long tail of the turtle.
Average Length:	8 - 14 in. (20.3 - 36 cm), weight 10 - 35 lbs. (4.5 - 16 kg)
Virginia Record	18 1/3 in. (46.5 cm). 51 lbs.(23.13 kg)
Record length:	19.4 in. (49.4 cm), wild caught weight 75 lbs. (34 kg), captive weight 86 lbs. (39 kg)

Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service: Species Booklet

Photos:

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JD Kleopfer of the VA-DGIF holds all that remains of a Virginia record Eastern Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina). This specimen was caught at Ft. Pickett in August 2008 by a commercial snapping turtle fisherman. The turtle weighed in at 51 lbs. (23.13 kg) with a straight-line carapace length of 18 1/3 in. (46.5 cm). The previous Virginia record was 35 lbs. (16.0 kg) with a straight-line carapace length of 16.3 in. (41.5 cm).