Both snake eggs and turtle eggs are white or off-white in color, and around one inch (2.5cm) in length. Turtle eggs tend to be more spherical than snake eggs, and they sometimes have a harder shell than snake eggs. Turtle eggs are more fragile than snake eggs.
In this article we’ll go over some of the main difference between snake and turtle eggs so you can tell them apart.
Snake Eggs vs Turtle Eggs
| Snake Eggs | Turtle Eggs | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | Soft and leathery | Usually soft and leathery, some species have a hard shell |
| Shape | Ovoid | Varies by species. Mostly spherical, sometimes ovoid |
| Color | White or off-white | White or off-white |
| Texture | Leathery and bumpy | Soft shells are leathery and bumpy, hard shells are smooth |
1. Hardness
Turtle eggs are fragile. The shells are soft, and in the wild it is not unusual to see dented eggs. Snake eggs are also soft, but they are more malleable. They have a rubbery texture, and can bounce back to its original shape if they are bumped.
Turtle eggs do not work like this. The dents remain. Handlers pay special attention and care when handling turtle eggs, since dents in the egg can damage the embryo and kill it.
Depending on the species of the turtle, some eggs may have a hard shell.
Related Article: Are Snake Eggs Soft?
2. Shape
Most turtle eggs are roughly spherical, whereas snake eggs are more ovoid.
Many turtle eggs are spherical, but the eggs of the Cambodian Royal Turtle are oblong. People commonly mistake Cambodian Royal Turtle eggs for snake eggs since they are more similar in shape.
Related Article: Snake Eggs vs Lizard Eggs
3. Color
Turtle eggs are white or cream in color. Snake eggs, on the other hand, are off white to beige. Like all eggs, it is a little difficult for an untrained eye to see the difference in color.
When a turtle lays the egg, it is off white. The same thing goes for snakes. In the wild, the eggs get dirt, and it makes it all the more difficult to identify the color. Most experts rely on the shape of the egg and its texture to identify it.
Related Article: Snake Eggs vs Chicken Eggs
4. Texture
Both snake eggs and turtle eggs are leathery to the touch. The difference happens only if the turtle is that of a species that lay eggs with a hard shell, which are smooth.
One big difference between snake and turtle eggs is their malleability. Snake eggs come back to shape if pushed, while turtle eggs are more easily dented.
Do Snake Eggs look like Turtle Eggs?
Most snake eggs look like turtle eggs, but there are differences between individual species. In general, snake eggs are slightly more elongated than turtle eggs, which are more spherical.
Turtle eggs are spherical. If there is a turtle whose egg looks like a snake’s egg, it is the egg of the Cambodian Royal Turtle. Turtle eggs may resemble a bird’s egg, but a bird’s egg has significantly different sizes on both ends.
In terms of color, snake and turtle eggs are white, off white, beige, or cream. To the naked eye, it is difficult to tell them apart.
Do Snakes Eat Turtle Eggs?
Many species of snakes eat eggs, both of other species and of other snakes, but it’s unusual for snakes to eat turtle eggs because turtles bury their eggs in the sand to protect them. Snakes that eat eggs are known as ovoviviparous.
However, there is a species of snake called the Kukuri Snake that can eat turtle eggs even if they are buried. Kukuri Snakes’ sense of smell is so powerful that they can detect a nest of turtle eggs.
Once they find the right location, the kukuri snakes burrow underground and use their fangs to rupture the eggs so they can eat them. Kukuri snakes have small mouths, so it’s not possible for them to swallow turtle eggs whole like some other snakes would.
Do Turtles Eat Snake Eggs?
Some turtles are omnivorous. Despite this, an egg is not a particularly common part of their diet.
Turtles eat molluscs and crustaceans. Adults in the sea also eat fish, eggs, seaweed, and jellies. Some turtles even eat small ones.
Pet owners of turtles do not feed them with eggs. Usually, they feed vegetables, insects, and fish. There are also many commercial pellets that one can buy from a pet store.
Do Turtles Incubate Their Eggs?
No, turtles do not incubate their eggs. They dig a nest, lay a clutch of eggs, then they leave. It is the warmth of the sand and sun that incubates the eggs.
The eggs typically hatch between eight and eleven weeks. In captivity, pet owners incubate the eggs.
Turtles, like snakes, do not care for their young. In the wild, baby turtles hatch and have to dig their way out of the sand. From there, they have to make their way to the sea, where they begin their life as a turtle.
Summary: Snake Eggs vs Turtle Eggs
Both turtle and snake eggs are leathery and soft. Some turtle species have eggs that have a hard shell, but most reptile eggs are generally malleable.
One big difference between a snake egg and a turtle egg is that the snake egg is like memory foam.
Snake eggs are oblong, like cylinders, while turtle eggs are spherical. Turtle eggs are white to cream, while snake eggs are white to beige.
Snakes eat turtle eggs, but turtles rarely eat snake eggs. Many turtles may be omnivores, but eggs are not an important part of their diet.
Stuart is the editor of Fauna Facts. He edits our writers’ work as well as contributing his own content. Stuart is passionate about sustainable farming and animal welfare and has written extensively on cows and geese for the site.