Common Snapping Turtle or a Rock?

This Common Snapping Turtle surfaced long enough for me to get a picture. As has happened in the past, I initially thought I was looking at a rock, and I only kept looking there because I didn't remember seeing a rock in this location before [1]. And sure enough, the "rock" rose up higher in the water and showed its head [2].

Because of the tendency of Common Snapping Turtles to bask in the sun while mostly submerged with only the top of their carapace protruding out of the water, they're easier to mistake for rocks than pretty much any other area turtle. And of course, if a smaller turtle were to do this, it would also be easier to overlook them completely. 

But even though our snapping turtles can look quite a bit like rocks while basking in this fairly unique way, they still like to breathe, and after several minutes you'll notice that at least the tip of the nose will poke above the surface, demonstrating that they're no rock after all.

May 6, 2023 at Duke Farms
Photo 282303665, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)		 

[1] It was slightly upstream from the little waterfall at Dukes Brook.

[2] I also would have determined the rock was a turtle if it started gliding around in the water.


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