There are a bunch! Here goes:

HEAD: Common Snapping Turtles (CST's) have a large head, but not nearly as large (proportionately to body size) as that of the Alligator Snapping Turtle (AST). Also, the AST has a pronounced hooked beak, like a parrot or hawk, while the CST's beak is very slightly hooked or not hooked at all.

EYES: CST's have eyes placed very high on the head; if you look at the turtle's head from above the eyes are clearly visible. AST's have eyes placed lower on the head; they are not clearly visible from above; AST's also have a ring of fleshy tubercles around the eye.

TUBERCLES: CST's have simple, nub-like tubercles on the throat and neck. AST's have more complex, branched tubercles.

CARAPACIAL SCUTES: Young CST's have a peak on each costal and vertebral scute; in old adults these may be worn down and the shell be nearly flat. AST's at all ages and sizes have pronounced peaks on each costal and vertebral scute, and these run end to end of each scute to form three continuous longitudinal ridges; also the scutes are rough and corrugated in texture. And finally, AST's have a row of 3-6 small supramarginal scutes between the marginals and costals on each side; no other turtle species has these.

CARAPACE SHAPE: A CST seen from above appears to have a nearly circular or somewhat oval carapace; an AST's carapace is more oblong or squarish.

TAIL: The CST's tail has three rows of large raised scutes, giving it a strong 'sawtoothed' look. The AST's tail has these scutes as well, but they are small and unobtrusive.


That's all I can think of for now, except that AST's have a pink lure in the mouth and CST's don't. Range and habitat help too- the CST is found over a much broader area and in more diverse habitats than the AST, which is essentially a swamp and river turtle of the Gulf Coastal Plain and adjacent areas.

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