The tail has saw-toothed keels on it. The shell ranges in color from dark brown to tan and can even be black in some individuals. Snapping turtles have characteristic tubercles on their necks and legsSnapping turtles only live in fresh or brackish water. They prefer water bodies with muddy bottoms and abundant vegetation because concealment is easier. The snapping turtle's range stretches from S. Alberta and east to Nova Scotia in the north, extending south all the way to the Gulf of Mexico and into central Texas. Animal Diversity WebReptiles and Amphibians of Eastern/Central North America. A Peterson Field Guide. Roger Conant and Joseph Collins 3rd Edition. Houghton Mifflin, New York, NY. 1998.