Common Snapping Turtle vs. Spotted Turtle

The shell pattern: Common Snapping Turtle — plain, no pattern; Spotted Turtle — round yellow spots on black. The head marks: Common Snapping Turtle — plain; Spotted Turtle — yellow or orange spots. The underside: Common Snapping Turtle — small, cross-shaped, lots of skin showing; Spotted Turtle — rigid, covering the underside. The ridge on the shell: Common Snapping Turtle — three low ridges running lengthwise or no ridge — smooth; Spotted Turtle — no ridge — smooth (these overlap, so it only helps).

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

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