Snapping Turtles

Meet the Turtles

SNAPPING TURTLES
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

lure inside mouth

plastron

eye

Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
ID:

sharp beak, long neck, long tail
rear margin of carapace sharply serrated
carapace length*: female 15.0" (380mm); male 17.3" (439mm)

Habitat: river and springs
Diet: omnivore
Nesting season: April - May

crepuscular
basks rarely
largest individual we captured in the Santa Fe River weighed 44 lbs
naturally occurs in most freshwater habitats throughout Florida
take or possession from the wild prohibited by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission [Rule 68A-25.002(9)]

snapping turtle

plastron

weighing a snapping turtle

hatchling