Editing Common snapping turtle (section)

==Anatomy and morphology==
[[File:Common Snapping Turtle Close Up.jpg|thumb|Close-up in [[Taum Sauk Mountain State Park]], Missouri]]
[[File:Snapper2.jpg|thumb|Head]]
[[File:Chelydra-serpentina3.jpg|thumb|Skull]]
[[File:Chelydra serpentina 3d scan Natural History Museum University of Pisa B 2030.stl|thumb|Skull of ''Chelydra serpentina'', 3D model]]
''C. serpentina'' has a rugged, muscular build with a ridged [[carapace]] (upper shell) that varies in color from tan, brown, and black,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=de Solla |first1=Shane R. |display-authors=etal |title=Impact of Organochlorine Contamination on Levels of Sex Hormones and External Morphology of Common Snapping Turtles (''Chelydra serpentina serpentina'') in Ontario, Canada |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |volume=106 |issue=5 |year=1998 |pages=253–260 |doi=10.1289/ehp.98106253|pmid=9518475 |pmc=1533098 }}</ref> although ridges tend to be more pronounced in younger individuals. The straight-line carapace length in adulthood may be nearly {{convert|50|cm|in|abbr=on}}, though {{convert|25|-|47|cm|in|abbr=on}} is more common.<ref name="Animal">{{cite book |editor=Wilson, D.E. |editor2=Burnie, D. |date=2001 |title=Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the World's Wildlife |location=London and New York |publisher=Dorling Kindersley (DK) Publishing. 624 pp |isbn=978-0-7894-7764-4}}</ref> ''C. serpentina'' usually weighs {{convert|4.5|-|16|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. Per one study, breeding common snapping turtles were found to average {{convert|28.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} in carapace length, {{convert|22.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} in [[turtle shell#Plastron|plastron]] length and weigh about {{convert|6|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Iverson |first1=J.B. |last2=Higgins |first2=H. |last3=Sirulnik |first3=A. |last4=Griffiths |first4=C. |year=1997 |title=Local and geographic variation in the reproductive biology of the snapping turtle (''Chelydra serpentina'') |journal=Herpetologica |volume=53 |issue=1 |pages=96–117 |jstor=3893247}}</ref>

Males are larger than females, with almost all  weighing in excess of {{convert|10|kg|lb|abbr=on}} being male and quite old, as the species continues to grow throughout life.<ref name= Brooks/> Any specimen above the aforementioned weights is exceptional, but the heaviest wild specimen caught reportedly weighed {{convert|34|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. Common snapping turtles kept in captivity can be quite overweight due to overfeeding and have weighed as much as {{convert|39|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. In the northern part of its range, the common snapping turtle is often the heaviest native freshwater turtle.<ref name=VHS>[http://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/reptiles/turtles/eastern-snapping-turtle/eastern_snapping_turtle.php Virginia Herpetological Society: Eastern Snapping Turtle ''Chelydra serpentina serpentina'']</ref>

According to a study by Nakamuta et al. (2016), common snapping turtles have well-developed olfactory organs, nerves, and bulbs that suggest that this species has a great sense of smell.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Nakamuta |first1=Nobuaki |last2=Nakamuta |first2=Shoko |last3=Kato |first3=Hideaki |last4=Yamamoto |first4=Yoshio |date=2016 |title=Morphological study on the olfactory systems of the snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tice.2016.03.011 |journal=Tissue and Cell |volume=48 |issue=3 |pages=145–151 |doi=10.1016/j.tice.2016.03.011 |pmid=27059760 |issn=0040-8166|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

[[File:Newly hatched common snapping turtles emerging from the ground.jpg|Hatchlings emerging from the ground|thumb|right]]