Digestion of the Snapping Turtle
This is a diagram of the Snapping Turtle's digestive system.
How the Snapping Turtle digests food:
1. They break up the food into chunks by ripping it with their teeth and feet, then push it down their throat with their tongue.
2. The food moves down through the trachea and esophagus to the stomach where it is squished and stored
3. The food then moves to the small intestine, where the cellulose of the food is digested. The small intestine is so long, that it can take up to four weeks for the food to move through the turtle's body.
4. Then, the undigested food is moved to the large intestine where water is retained from it.
5. After this, the unnecessary food exits out of the body from the anus. (1)
(1) http://classic.sidwell.edu/us/science/vlb7/dissectlab/conclusion/digestive.html
2. The food moves down through the trachea and esophagus to the stomach where it is squished and stored
3. The food then moves to the small intestine, where the cellulose of the food is digested. The small intestine is so long, that it can take up to four weeks for the food to move through the turtle's body.
4. Then, the undigested food is moved to the large intestine where water is retained from it.
5. After this, the unnecessary food exits out of the body from the anus. (1)
(1) http://classic.sidwell.edu/us/science/vlb7/dissectlab/conclusion/digestive.html