Wildsight
Compare two species

Common Snapping Turtle vs. Painted Turtle

The shell pattern: Common Snapping Turtle — plain, no pattern; Painted Turtle — red marks around the edge, otherwise plain. The head marks: Common Snapping Turtle — plain; Painted Turtle — several yellow stripes, no patch. The underside: Common Snapping Turtle — small, cross-shaped, lots of skin showing; Painted Turtle — rigid, covering the underside. The ridge on the shell: Common Snapping Turtle — three low ridges running lengthwise or no ridge — smooth; Painted Turtle — no ridge — smooth (these overlap, so it only helps).

Open this comparison in Wildsight

Common Snapping Turtle

Chelydra serpentina

Painted Turtle

Chrysemys picta
Common Snapping Turtle vs. Painted Turtle: comparison sheet with the differences marked

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

More comparisons

Wildsight identifies the reptiles and amphibians of the United States. Every comparison