| South American snapping turtle | |
|---|---|
| | |
| A South American snapping turtle in the Cali Zoo | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | Chelydridae |
| Genus: | Chelydra |
| Species: | C. acutirostris |
| Binomial name | |
| Chelydra acutirostris | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
The South American snapping turtle (Chelydra acutirostris) [1] is a species of turtle in the family Chelydridae. [1] This species, which is endemic to Central and northwestern South America, was previously considered a subspecies of Chelydra serpentina . [1] Its restricted range in South America reflects its recent arrival there as part of the Great American Interchange.
Chelydra acutirostris is found in Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador [1] and Peru.
There are no recognized subspecies of C. acutirostris. [1] [2]