Chelydra 一字源自希臘文 ”chelydros“，解作水中的魔鬼；因其高度水棲性及外表而得名；serpentina在拉丁文中解作 ”像蛇一樣“，指其頸項像蛇一樣。成體的平背鱷魚龜幾乎沒有敵人，只被人類大量捕捉以作食糧，與及被少數天敵如鱷魚、水獺、熊或郊狼捕食 Common Snapping Turtles are true omnivores, and will eat anything they can fit into their mouths. Juveniles freely forage for food, while adults prefer to be ambush predators, lying in wait for the next passing meal. These tendencies make all sizes excellent tank turtles. Not the best community turtles, juvenile Common Snapping Turtles think everyone’s tail is a worm - and will promptly remove them - even other snappers‘. We feed ours pellets, cut fish and beef. Water plants are also offered. One study has shown hatchlings to imprint well on early food items.