As the warmth of summer drains the leaves of their green glow, our summer of searching out a world record Common Snapping Turtle is coming to a close.
The mud has been deep, the leaches merciless, and the adventures extreme...the only way it should have been as we took on some of the most difficult swamp conditions Ohio had to offer. 
We have shared with you some magnificent reptiles and amphibians this summer, specifically a few seriously monster sized Snapping Turtles. The current world record for a Common Snapping Turtle tips the scales at 76 lbs and a carapace of 22 inches. It is hard to fathom how large a turtle like that really is... but to give you a starting point...we are talking about something with a shell the size of a truck tire and a head that would rival a football. 
Our adventures have brought big turtles...Ashton Pond at Blacklick Woods Metro Park was insane...remember this 45 lb monster from a few weeks back?
However, the largest turtle we landed this summer is truly epic. A 55 lb. monster with a legendary reputation of being a 200 year old dinosaur. You may have seen a few pictures of this turtle used in our promotional materials...but we have decided to dedicate a post to giving this prehistoric beast the blog time he deserves. 
This turtle is not 200 years old, but he sure looks it. We estimate that he may be as old as 60 or 70 years...and when you really think about it...that is one ancient being. 
Take notice of the gnarled beak, grotesque lumps and deformities on his head. 
We love this shot...look at the size of this animals plastron (bottom of the shell) and those claws look as if they could rival a grizzly bear...they measured over 2 inches in length...Coyote got a leg full of their power and the scars to prove it, wrestling the beast from the marsh. This Common Snapping Turtle set our personal records at the following:
Weight: 55 lbs.
Length of Carapace: 19 inches
Tail: 20 inches
Circumference of Carapace: 47 inches
Total Estimated Length: (nose to tail tip) 54 inches
Estimated Age: 60-70 years
It goes without question that this is the biggest turtle Coyote has ever captured, and the oldest. We have scoured the Internet for pictures of a turtle that rivals this specimen...and nothing comes close. We are very proud of that fact:)
As is always our motto..."Live and Let Live!" This beautiful grandfather of the reptilian kind was released back to his marsh to grow and hopefully live another lifetime. 
Truly an epic capture and a trophy photograph for a life time and the summer that we had searching out these incredible reptiles. I'm Coyote Peterson...and this...is The REPTILE Show!
Photographs courtesy of: Jasper Applewood, Chammp Swaggerty, Mud Man Mark Vins and The Photodawg!
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