Was it a snapping turtle?

Question

I was driving today and saw a turtle in the road, so I stoped to move it. It was a very large turtle - at least 16-18 inches long. It didn't bite me or go after me when I picked it up - all it did was pee actually. How would I have known if it was a snapping turtle? What other type of turtle could it have been if it was that large, but unaggressive?

Answer 1

If you'd looked at it from underneath, you could have told instantly from the reduced lower shell. Snappers are brown and have long tails with saw-like scales on top. They usually are agressive while on land. Look at a field guide that covers the turtles from your area. That should help you ID the turtle.

Answer 2

Well snapping turtles have a beak like mouth and if you put your hand in his mouth and bites you it can chop your hand off.

Answer 3

it was not a snapper. it would have bit your hand off.don't ever go near a snapper.

Answer 4

pictures of snapping turtles/below website.  thank you for moving the turtle out of the road.  always wash your hands after handling any reptile.

Answer 5

You need to post a photo, or give a description and location, or look in a field guide for your area.

Answer 6

That would have been a Tortoise.  You should only move them if you HAVE to, keep them level and close to the ground to try and keep them from peeing (if they pee too much they can die of dehydration before finding more water sources)  And ALWAYS move them in the direction they're already traveling even if it's to the far side of the road.  If you move them back to where they came from they'll just turn around and go back to where they were originally going.

A snapping turtle is much smaller generally and is thus called because of it's quick snapping bite that it uses to feed and defend itself.

Answer 7

snapping turtle are usually  brownish Grey and have a very long tail and large head

if it was green with a red around its eyes it was probably a red slider  

need more  info to go any further there are many different types of land turtle  different shapes and colors

Answer 8

A painted turtle, has color on it's underbelly, did you see any color?  Those turtles can get kind of big, and they are friendly enough.  We've had snapping turtles before and they get huge!  But, I don't know enough about turtles to tell you specifically how to know the difference.  I just know painted turtles have some color on the bottom of it's shell, and snappers do not.