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Common Snapping Turtle vs. Northern Map Turtle

The shell pattern: Common Snapping Turtle — plain, no pattern; Northern Map Turtle — a fine net of pale lines, like a map. The head marks: Common Snapping Turtle — plain; Northern Map Turtle — a yellow spot or bar behind the eye. The underside: Common Snapping Turtle — small, cross-shaped, lots of skin showing; Northern Map Turtle — rigid, covering the underside. The ridge on the shell: Common Snapping Turtle — three low ridges running lengthwise or no ridge — smooth; Northern Map Turtle — one low, smooth ridge or a ridge with knobs or bumps along it.

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Common Snapping Turtle

Chelydra serpentina

Northern Map Turtle

Graptemys geographica
Common Snapping Turtle vs. Northern Map Turtle: comparison sheet with the differences marked

Photographs via iNaturalist under Creative Commons licences; the photographers are credited on the sheet.

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