
Snapping turtles are often mistaken for dinosaurs, especially by young children seeing them for the first time. But are they really dinosaurs? The short answer is no. While snapping turtles and dinosaurs are genetically related and share a common ancestor, they are distant relatives.
Snapping turtles, or Chelydra serpentine, originated in North America and fossil records show that they have remained virtually unchanged for millions of years, dating back 200 million years—making them one of the oldest vertebrate groups still alive today. They have weathered mass extinction events, including the meteor impact that killed the dinosaurs, and thrived into modernity.
On the other hand, dinosaurs first appeared in the fossil record around 230 million years ago and went extinct around 66 million years ago. While they shared the Earth with snapping turtles for a time, they are not direct descendants or ancestors of snapping turtles. Instead, turtles are part of a group known as diapsids, which also includes dinosaurs, but they branched off early in the evolutionary tree.
So, while snapping turtles may look like dinosaurs and share some genetic links, they are not dinosaurs themselves.
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Snapping turtles are not dinosaurs, but they are distant relatives
Snapping turtles, or Chelydra serpentine, originated in North America and fossil records show that they have remained virtually unchanged for millions of years. They have been around for 40 million years, and their ancestry dates back 200 million years—making them one of the oldest vertebrate groups still alive today.
Scientists believe that turtles evolved on land and that snapping turtles have only recently taken to the water. They spend most of their lives in muddy, mucky-bottomed, weed-choked ponds, streams, lakes, and swamps. As omnivores, they eat a wide range of aquatic plants, fish, snakes, amphibians, other turtles, carrion, and birds.
Snapping turtles are proficient hunters, and their jaws are more like vices than axes. They are much less aggressive in the water than they are on land. They have the ability to slow their metabolism so much that they barely hover above death for as long as six months at a time, drawing in low levels of dissolved oxygen through membranes in their throats and mouths to sustain themselves. This process, known as extrapulmonary respiration, is believed to be how snapping turtles survived the cataclysmic meteor that led to the mass extinction of the dinosaurs.
While snapping turtles are not dinosaurs, they are genetically related and share a common ancestor. They are part of a group known as diapsids, which also includes dinosaurs, though they branched off early in the evolutionary tree. They are also part of the larger group Archelosauria, which includes their closest relatives: birds, crocodiles, and dinosaurs.
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Snapping turtles have existed for 40 million years
Snapping turtles have existed for around 40 million years, according to fossil records. They originated in North America and are now found throughout the United States, southern Canada, Mexico, Central America, and even parts of Asia. They are considered the "ultimate survivors", outliving the dinosaurs and thriving in the present day.
The scientific name for the common snapping turtle is Chelydra serpentina (or Chelydra s. serpentine), and they are the largest freshwater turtles in Canada and the US. They are known for their rugged, muscular build, with a ridged carapace (upper shell) that can be tan, brown, or black, and a long, spiked tail. They typically weigh between 4.5 and 16 kg, but some wild specimens have been recorded at over 30 kg.
These turtles are highly adaptable and can be found in a wide range of aquatic habitats, from slow-moving rivers and streams to marshes, swamps, and lakes. They are omnivores, feeding on plants, insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals. They are also known for their combative disposition when out of the water, with powerful beak-like jaws and a highly mobile head and neck.
Despite their fearsome reputation, snapping turtles are quite docile underwater and will usually flee or hide if they feel threatened. They are also incredibly resilient, able to slow their metabolism and survive in low-oxygen environments for extended periods. This ability likely contributed to their survival during the meteor impact that wiped out the dinosaurs.
The longevity and success of snapping turtles can be attributed to their effective design and ability to adapt to changing environments. Their survival instincts and resilience make them true survivors of the natural world.
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They are considered the ultimate survivors
Snapping turtles are considered the ultimate survivors, having existed for 40 million years and their ancestry dating back 200 million years. They are one of the oldest vertebrate groups still alive today.
The Chelydra serpentine species, native to North America, have remained virtually unchanged for millions of years. This is not due to a lack of evolution but rather a testament to their remarkable design, which has allowed them to thrive. Their ability to slow down their metabolism and survive on limited resources is believed to be how they survived the meteor impact that caused the mass extinction of dinosaurs.
Snapping turtles have a robust survival mechanism called extrapulmonary respiration, which allows them to slow their metabolism and survive on low levels of dissolved oxygen for up to six months. This ability to adapt to harsh conditions and their longevity have earned them the title of "ultimate survivors."
Their survival is also attributed to their aggressive hunting strategies and ability to live in a variety of ecosystems. They are proficient hunters with no predators once they reach maturity. They can be found in muddy, mucky-bottomed, weed-choked ponds, streams, lakes, and swamps across the United States, southern Canada, Mexico, and Central America. They are omnivores and eat a wide range of aquatic plants, fish, snakes, amphibians, birds, and even other turtles.
Snapping turtles have a reputation for their aggressive behaviour, especially when cornered or caught on land. They will defend themselves by snapping with their powerful jaws, which can inflict heavy damage. Their long, serpentine necks and aggressive behaviour make them formidable predators.
In summary, snapping turtles are considered the ultimate survivors due to their ability to adapt to harsh conditions, their longevity, aggressive hunting strategies, and their presence in a variety of ecosystems. They have survived for millions of years and earned their reputation as resilient and formidable creatures.
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They have a slow metabolic rate
While snapping turtles are not dinosaurs, they are often mistaken for them, especially by young children seeing them for the first time. This is perhaps due to their prehistoric appearance, with their ridged carapaces, finger-long claws, and sharp, beaked mouths. They are also referred to as "living dinosaurs" because they have been around for 40 million years, and their ancestry dates back 200 million years, making them one of the oldest vertebrate groups still alive today.
One of the reasons snapping turtles have survived for so long is their ability to slow down their metabolic rate. They can slow their metabolism so much that they barely hover above death for as long as six months at a time, drawing in low levels of dissolved oxygen through membranes in their throat and mouths to sustain themselves. This process is known as extrapulmonary respiration.
During the cataclysmic meteor impact that led to the mass extinction of the dinosaurs, snapping turtles likely survived by slowing down their metabolism and making do with limited food. While larger animals fought over dwindling food supplies, snapping turtles, protected in their aquatic environment, were able to adapt and thrive.
This ability to slow their metabolic rate is also seen in the Galapagos turtles, which can survive for days without eating. This ability, along with their protective shell structure, could have helped ancient turtles survive the K-Pg extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs.
In addition to their slow metabolic rate, snapping turtles have other characteristics that have contributed to their survival. They are proficient hunters, with strong jaws that can deliver a powerful chomp. They are also able to hold their breath for up to six months at a time and have a protective shell. Their ability to adapt and survive in both aquatic and terrestrial environments has allowed them to weather mass extinction events and thrive into modernity.
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They are proficient hunters
Snapping turtles are highly skilled hunters. They are omnivores, feeding on a wide range of aquatic plants, fish, snakes, amphibians, other turtles, carrion, and birds, especially young ducklings. They are also known to eat small mammals.
The hunting style of snapping turtles is to lie in wait for their prey, remaining still and allowing fish to swim into their wide-open mouths. They are not typically aggressive, but they will bite and snap powerfully at their prey or in self-defence if they feel threatened. Their jaws function more like a clamp or vise than an axe, and they will clamp down on their victim, holding tight and slowly drowning or mortally injuring them.
Snapping turtles are at the top of the food chain in their aquatic environment and have no predators once they reach maturity. They are extremely effective hunters, with the ability to extend their long, serpentine necks to snap their way out of danger. Their powerful jaws are so strong that they have been the subject of urban legends claiming they could snap a broom handle in two with one bite. While this is likely an exaggeration, it speaks to the perceived power and danger of these creatures.
The hunting prowess of snapping turtles is further enhanced by their ability to slow their metabolism, allowing them to survive for extended periods with limited food sources. This adaptation, known as extrapulmonary respiration, enables them to draw low levels of dissolved oxygen through membranes in their throat and mouths. This unique ability likely contributed to their survival during the cataclysmic meteor impact that led to the mass extinction of the dinosaurs.
In summary, snapping turtles are proficient hunters, employing a combination of strategic patience, powerful jaws, and metabolic flexibility to secure their prey and ensure their survival in a variety of environmental conditions.
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