These awesome animals are some of the most impressive inhabitants of aquatic southeastern habitats. Their huge heads and saw-toothed tails give them a prehistoric appearance.
Common snappers are at home in slow-moving streams, rivers, lakes and ponds.
They feed on a variety of foods, including insects, crayfish, birds, mammals, carrion and aquatic vegetation. SREL researchers have found that female snappers on the Savannah River Site lay 17-55 eggs in a cavity they dig with their back legs. Snappers are inoffensive when in the water, but can be downright pugnacious when encountered on land. Their strong jaws and sharp claws can be formidable weapons for protection. Small to medium-sized individuals can be carefully moved out of the road by grasping them by the tail.