Found this no-so-massive snapping turtle

[Jim Smith]

With the recent postings of large snapping turtles people have found and assisted, I thought I'd share this little guy I found in my back yard this morning. I live on a 50 acre lake so I see baby Red Ear Sliders all the time, but this is the first baby snapping turtle I've found. I find it interesting that he already has a nice coating of algae on his shell. I'm not sure if this is the result of him sitting still to ambush his prey and the algae settles and starts to grow -or- if snapping turtle shells have adapted to encourage algae growth to facilitate camouflage that helps them hunt more successfully. Either way, he's a cutie and back in the lake doing his thing.

[FWK]

Very cute

[sharthun]

Awesome find Jim!

[jpsteele80]

Awesome find

[drumcrush]

Awwwwwwwwwww

[Teal]

How adorable! I wish we had snapping turtles here

[guidofatherof5]

Awesome. Sweet little shelled-one.