A snapping turtle is a large freshwater turtle known for its powerful jaws and defensive behavior when threatened. Unlike most turtles that can pull their heads completely into their shells, snapping turtles have relatively small shells compared to their bodies, so they defend themselves by biting instead of hiding.

These turtles live in ponds, lakes, rivers, and swamps across North America. They spend most of their time underwater, buried in mud or hiding among plants, waiting to ambush fish, frogs, and other small animals. A snapping turtle can stay submerged for a long time, barely moving.

The common snapping turtle can weigh up to 35 pounds, but its cousin the alligator snapping turtle can reach over 200 pounds, making it one of the largest freshwater turtles in the world. These ancient reptiles have been around for millions of years.

The name comes from their defensive snap: when a snapping turtle feels cornered on land, it strikes with surprising speed, and its bite is strong enough to break a wooden broomstick. In water, though, they're usually calm and prefer to swim away. If you spot one while swimming or fishing, the smart move is to give it plenty of space and let it go about its business.