Very Large Turtle, Help Identify Please

[Nightskies4us]

I was in The Rouge again yesterday.  I came across this massive Turtle in the Rouge River by a log jam.  I have no idea what kind of Turtle this is.  I am guessing it's a Snapper.  If you look at the image posted on my Flickr Page and can identify it.  Please leave a note so I can name it correctly.  I would have to say the shell was at least 16 to 18 inches from the tail area to the head end.   It was large.
www.flickr.com/photos/nightskies4us
Thanks
Karsten

[Axeman]

Its a little tough to see BUT...b/c of the size and the snout....I'm guessing either common or alligator snapping turtle...but then again, I spent a lot of time sniffing liquid paper as a kid.

[Faltorvo]

I would lean towards alligator turtle, it's snout looks a little  too,to,two,2  (sniffffff)  pointed for a snapper. TOES into the boat! TOES INTO THE BOAT!!!

[Jimbo]

Hi There: Looks like a spiny softshell turtle to me. They are fairly common in Southern Ont Rivers. I have seen them in the Thames west of London On and at Long Point.

The following link to Google has a pic and description.

I'm not great at posting urls so may have to cut and paste.

JD

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=h ... tart%3D120

[Bird Brain]

Hi There: Looks like a spiny softshell turtle to me. They are fairly common in Southern Ont Rivers. I have seen them in the Thames west of London On and at Long Point.

Jim ... that was my first thought as well upon seeing the photo.

Jo-Anne  

[Turtlebird]

That is a common snapping turtle  The short snout, hard shell and thick scaly legs give it away. They get very big here but not anywhere as big as Alligator snapping turtles which are only found in the south-east U.S and have much large heads and a shell with 3 distinct spiky keels.  If you look closely at the pic you can see a hard smooth shell under the water.
It can't be a spiny softshell because the nose is not long enough...softshells have very long, snorkel-like noses with a fleshy apperance and no scutes (plates) on the shell.  Also I don't think they are found in the Rouge.  Spiny softshells have a 'threatened' status in Ontario and are very hard to spot as they burrow under the sand with only the nose poking out.

[angelicque]

*agrees with Turtlebird*

definitely a snapping turtle, and an old one at that

if i were to find you a map of rouge park, would you be able to pin point where it was seen? i'd like to check this guy (or gal) out!