The Santa Fe River is home to 2 different snapping turtle species. One aspect of our research involves learning about how these species manage to coexist. Another aspect of our work focuses on monitoring these populations and assessing their status because they are threatened by illegal collection for food. These turtles are actually quite shy. They will only bite if they are harassed.
Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle
Machrochelys suwanniensis
ID:
- sharp beak, short neck, long tail, large head
- rear margin of the carapace sharply serrated
- row of supramarginal scutes on each side of the carapace
- starburst pattern in eye
- carapace length*: female 19.4" (492mm); male 24.5" (623mm)
Habitat: river and springs
Diet: omnivore
Nesting season: March - May
- crepuscular and nocturnal
- basks rarely
- largest individual we captured in the Santa Fe River weighed 130 lbs.
- requires approximately 20 years to reach sexual maturity
- only occurs in Suwannee River Basin
- take or possession from the wild prohibited by Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission [Rule 68A-25.002(9)]
Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle