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Free images of Turtles - Snapping Turtle Note
on large files: Very large files may be bigger than your
screen.
The images below were taken at Grundy Lake Provincial Park in Northern Ontario. Under the Ontario Endangered Species Act, the Snapping Turtle is currently listed as a species of Special Concern and has been designated as a Specially Protected Reptile under the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Their lifespan in the wild is believed to be well over 100 years! While appearing to be slow, I have seen a snapping turtle dash for a fishing lure with lightning speed. Snapping Turtles have powerful peak-like jaws and a very mobile neck and head. They can lunge quickly and snap its jaws shut with enough force to remove your finger.
What happened to this turtle's nose?
Look
carefully at these two images. What is different about the two
females? It would appear that female A has had a serious injury to her
snout. Her upper beak, lip and nostrils seem to have been torn
off. In a fight perhaps?
getting Snapping turtles mate from April through November. In North America (Ontario) their peak laying season is in June and July. At the age of about 17-19 years, the female will breed and lay a "clutch" of about 25 eggs, although as many as 80 eggs are possible, in a hole she digs in the sand. Females are known to be picky and spend quite a bit of time searching for an optimal laying site. The sandy beach right had the tracks of Female A's search for the perfect spot. She criss-crossed the entire beach before selecting a spot near the water's edge.
Looking for turtle tracks? Look for a swiggly line with claw marks on either side. The line is created by the turtle's dragging tail. Look carefully and you can see the turtle's claw marks as she pulls herself along the sand. After laying her eggs, the female covers the eggs with her hind legs and leaves them in the warm, sun-baked sand for incubation. Incubation time depends upon the temperature and ranges from 9 to 18 weeks. In cooler Northern climates, hatchlings spend the winter in the nest. The incubation temperature of the eggs will determine the gender of the hatchlings. Eggs at a temperature of 23-28C will be male, other temperatures turn into females. Eggs usually hatch in about 80 to 90 days. In the photos below, the female was so intent on laying her eggs, she seemed oblivious to everything else around her and didn't seem to mind me taking pictures. Typically, they have a combative disposition. The photographs are of two separate females, laying eggs in the same location two years apart.
Snapping
Turtle laying eggs. - 1 Female "A" Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 3498 x 2623 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Snapping
Turtle laying eggs. - 2 Female "A" Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 4608 x 3456 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Snapping
Turtle laying eggs. - 3 Female "A" Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 4608 x 3456 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Snapping Turtle laying eggs. - 4 Female "A" Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 4190 x 3143 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Snapping Turtle laying eggs. - 5 Female "A" Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 4608 x 3456 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Snapping Turtle laying eggs. - 6 Female "A" Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 3456 x 4608 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Snapping Turtle laying eggs. - 7 Female "A" Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 3702 x 2774 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Snapping
Turtle laying eggs. - 8 Female "A" Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 3953 x 2965 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Snapping
Turtle laying eggs. - 9 Female "A" Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 4608 x 3456 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Snapping
Turtle laying eggs. - 10 Female "A" Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 4608 x 3456 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Snapping
Turtle laying eggs. - 11 Female "A" Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 3890 x 2918 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Snapping
Turtle laying eggs. - 12 Female "A" Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 3999 x 2999 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Snapping Turtle laying eggs. -13 Female "A" Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 4608 x 3456 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Snapping
Turtle - 1 (Female B) Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 4608 x 3456 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Snapping
Turtle - 2 (Female B) Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 2448 x 3264 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Snapping
Turtle - 3 (Female B) Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 3456 x 4608 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Snapping
Turtle - 4 (Female B) Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 4608 x 3456 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
All turtles come on land to lay their eggs. In many species, the incubation temperature in the nest determines if an egg develops into a male or female. Higher temperatures produce females, while lower ones produce males. Turtles lay their eggs in sand or mud, digging and laying their eggs in holes. Once covered, the eggs are left to incubate by themselves. Hatchlings squirm to the surface and head directly towards the nearest water source.
Snapping Turtle Image Pages [1] [2]
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Snapping
turtles [Chelydra serpentina] are the largest freshwater turtles found in
North America. Other common names include "Common Snapping Turtle,
Snapper" and "Mud Turtle". Beware, these creatures have
very powerful beak-like jaws and a very mobile head. 
her beak stuck into something she bit? Not being an expert in
these matters and failing to find any research on the matter, I wonder how she
holds her breath and manages to swallow her food. Nonetheless,
her wounds seemed to have healed nicely and she seems healthy, so she has
adapted well. 
