The Turtles The Shores of Long Bayou

The Turtles
of
The Shores of Long Bayou
Dad, Are You
Watching Junior?
Ernie Franke
eafranke@tampabay.rr.com
April 2015
Central Florida, Fresh-Water Turtle Identification
•Turtle ID (Identification
–Amaze Your Fiends with Your Mastery of Turtle-ology
–Photograph the Turtle Using a Long-Distance Lens
–Just as with Birding, Turtle Identification Is Best with Binoculars
•Central Florida Freshwater Turtles
–Freshwater Turtles - Emydidae
•Chicken Turtle - Deirochelys reticularia
•River Cooter - Pseudemys concinna
•Common Cooter - Pseudemys floridana
•Florida Red-Belly Cooter - Pseudemys nelsoni
•Red-Eared Slider - Trachemys scripta elegans
–Freshwater Turtles - Trionychidae
•Florida Softshell Turtle - Apalone ferox
–Freshwater Turtles - Kinosternidae
•Common Musk (Stinkpot) Turtle - Sternotherus odoratus
–Freshwater Turtles - Chelydridae
•Florida Snapping Turtle - Chelydra serpentina osceola
Yes, Cliff Clavin, in just a short time, you will be able to amaze
your friends with your trivia of the turtle kingdom.
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Turtle Anatomy
•Shell
–Composed of Carapace (top part) and Plastron (bottom plate)
–Parts Connected Along the Sides to Form the Shell Compartment
–Both Shell Parts Covered with Scutes (horny plates)
•Scutes
–Made of Protein Keratin: Same Substance as Human Fingernails and Hair
•Carapace (upper shell)
–Permanently Attached to Turtle’s Skeleton
•Living Turtle Cannot Be Removed from Shell
–Low, Flat Stream-Lined Shape, Compared to Terapins (land turtles)
•Helps Reduce Drag as Turtle Swims
•Plastron (bottom plate)
Scutes
Carapace
–Bottom Portion of Turtle Shell
Plastron
Marginal Scutes
The top shell of a turtle is called the carapace, and the bottom plate a plastron,
and the two are connected by supports called bridges.
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Turtle Rules in Florida
•Collecting of Freshwater Turtle Eggs Is Prohibited
•FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) Rules
–Prohibit Possessing Turtles from Wild on Florida's Imperiled Species List;
•Alligator Snapping turtles (Macrochelys temminckii)
•Barbour's Map Turtles (Graptemys barbouri)
•Suwannee Cooters (Pseudemys suwanniensis)
–Also Prohibited Taking Species That Look Similar to Imperiled Species;
•Cooters (Pseudemys sp.)
•Escambia Map Turtle (Graptemys ernsti)
•Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina)
•Non-Native Species Released into the Wild Compete with Native Species for
Habitat or Food, Prey on Native Wildlife, Transmit Diseases, or in the Case of the
Red-Eared Slider, Interbreed with Florida's Native Wildlife
–FWC Rule 68-5.001, Prohibits the Release of Any Non-Native Animal in Florida
–Red-Eared Sliders Are a Common Non-Native Turtle Popular in the Pet Trade
•Listed as a Conditional Species in Florida
•Anyone Possessing Red-Eared Slider before July 2007 Can Keep Their Turtle
•Not Allowed to Acquire Red-Eared Sliders as Pets After July 2007
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
seriously regulates the taking and possession of turtles in Florida .
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Example of Turtle ID: Turtle Island in the Ponds
Turtle Island in Pool Pond
Red-Ear
Turtle Island in Osprey Pond
The distinctive red mark behind the ear clearly sets this fellow apart
as a red-eared slider, descendent from an escapee from a pet store purchase.5
Red-Eared Slider: Trachemys scripta elegans
•Distribution: Not Native to Florida, But Very Common in the Pet Trade
–Escaped and Released Pets Have Established Themselves in Florida
•Identification: Red Ear
–Called Sliders Because They Slide Rapidly Off Logs When Approached
–Medium-to-Large Turtle Indigenous to Southeast United States
–Highly Invasive Species
–Greenish to Brown or Black or Dark Gray Carapace (top shell)
–Pale to Deep Yellow Plastron (bottom plate) with Black Smudges on Marginal
Scutes (scales)
Red-Ear
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Red-Eared Slider (cont.)
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Another Turtle ID: Turtle Island in Black-Bird Pond
The Florida softshell turtle is easy to identify because
of the pancake-like shell and prominent flippers.
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Florida Softshell Turtle: Apalone ferox
•Distribution:
–Primarily in Florida, But Also Ranges to Southern SC, GA and AL
–Mostly Aquatic, Only Emerging from Water to Bask or Lay Eggs
•Identification:
–Very Long Neck, Narrow Head
–Long, Slender, Snorkel-Like, Pointed Nose
–Legs That Look Like Flippers
–Soft Flexible Shells That Feel Like Leather
–Length of 15 to 76 cm (6 to 30”)
•Strong, Knife-Like Mandibles
–Almost As Powerful as the Jaws of a Snapping Turtle
–Avoid Handling
–Extremely Long Necks to Reach Around with a Nasty Bite
The Florida softshell turtle can generally be seen crossing roads,
heading toward bodies of freshwater to lay eggs.
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Another Turtle ID: Basking in Snowy Egret Lake
Notice Yellow Stripe
on Hind legs
The Florida or Common Cooter is one of most
frequently-seen turtles in Florida’s waterways.
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Florida or Common Cooter: Pseudemys floridana
•Distribution:
–One of Most Frequently-Seen Turtles in FL’s Waterways
–Northern Part of Florida Including Panhandle
•Identification:
–Large, Ranging from 23 to 38 cm (9 to 15”)
–Dark, Olive-Brown Carapace (top shell)
–Flatter in Appearance Than Similar Slider Turtle (Yellow-Bellied Slider)
–Faint to Bright Yellow Markings on Each Plate
•Plastron (bottom plate) Has No Markings
•Hollow (light-centered) Oval Markings on Marginal Scutes
–Marginal Scutes Run Along Perimeter of the Carapace (top shell)
–Head and Feet Are Dark Brown with Bright Yellow Stripes
•Yellowish-Orange Stripes on Head
–Do Not Form “Hairpins", As in Close Relative: Peninsula Cooter
Marginal Scutes
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Florida Chicken Turtle: Deirochelys reticularia chrysea
Notice: Broad Stripes on
•Distribution:
Front Legs
–Entire State of Florida
–Local Population Sizes Are Generally Small
–Seldom the Dominant Species of Turtle at Any Site
•Identification:
–Size: Medium-Sized Turtles Up to 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10”)
–Readily Identified by Long, Striped Necks (Chicken Neck)
•Head and Neck Length Approximately 80% of the Length of Carapace
–Striped “Pants“ Like a Yellow-Bellied Slider, But with Broad Stripes on Front
Legs
–Pear-Shaped, Olive to Dark Brown Carapace, Marked with a Reticulate Pattern
of Yellow to Orange lines
•Shell Pattern Usually Described as “Netlike"
•Carapace Is Marked Quite Differently from Yellowbelly and Peninsula Cooters
–Solid Yellow Plastron (bottom plate)
•Long Necks and Specialized Throats and Mouths Suck-In or Snap-Up Food
If the neck is really long, it’s a Florida Chicken turtle.
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River Cooters: Pseudemys concinna
•Genus Pseudemys Comprises Seven Species
•Members of Genus Among the Largest Members of Emydidae Class
–Carapace (upper shell) Lengths Reach 44 cm (17”)
–Easily Seen Basking on Rocks and Logs
•Very Wary and Quickly Retreat into the Water If Approached
–Live in Wide Variety of Freshwater and Even Brackish Locations
•Three Sub-Species of River Cooters in Central Florida:
–Eastern River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna concinna)
–Florida, Pond or Coastal Plain Cooter (Pseudemys concinna floridana)
–Suwannee Cooter (Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis)
An unusual trait of River Cooters is their placement on logs in the water,
stacking themselves on top of each other like pancakes on a plate.
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Eastern River Cooter: Pseudemys concinna concinna
•Distribution:
–Rivers and Large Streams along Gulf Coast of Florida
–Extremely Wary Species
•Slips into the Water at Slightest Sign of Humans
•Identification:
–Size: Large, Up to 16”, Largest Member of Its Family Pseudemys
–Relatively Flat Carapace (top shell), That Flares at Rear
•Streamlined for Riverine and other Moving-Water Habitats
–Brown Carapace with Reddish Tinges, Marked with Narrow Yellow Lines
•Each Marginal Scute Has a Wide, Yellow Bar Running Down the Center
•Mid-Dorsal Scutes Have Characteristic Concentric, Backward C-Shaped Mark
–Yellow, Orange or Reddish Plastron (bottom plate)
–Pale Yellow or Orange Stripes on Side and Top of the Head
–Wide Yellow Stripes on Underside of Neck, with Central Stripe Branching to
Form a Y-Shaped Mark
Concentric, Backward C-Shaped Marks
Yellow
Y-Shaped Mark
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Florida, Pond or Coastal Plain Cooter: Pseudemys concinna floridana
•Distribution:
–Northern Part of Florida Including Panhandle
–Found in Slower-Moving Water than River Cooters
•Identification:
–Size: Large like River Cooters, Up to 38 cm (15”)
–Brown to Black Carapace (top shell) with Vague Yellow Markings
•Compared to River Cooter; Relatively Higher-Domed Carapaces in Front That
Taper Off Toward the Rear
–Plain Yellow Plastron (bottom plate) with No Dark or Reddish Markings
–Head Stripes Range from Prominent and Yellow, to Faint and Greenish
The Florida Cooter has a slightly higher dome,
which places it in slower-moving water.
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Peninsula Cooter: Pseudemys floridana peninsularis
•Distribution:
–Entire State of Florida
–Sub-Species of Coastal Plain Cooter (Pseudemys concinna floridana)
•Dominate Race, Coastal Plain Cooter, Occupies Most of Species' Range
•Identification:
–Distinguished from Coastal Plain Cooter by Differences in Head Markings
•Distinguished from Both Sub-Species by Immaculate Yellow Color of Their
Plastrons and Lack of a U-Shaped Cusp in Upper Jaw (characteristic of the
Florida Red-Belly Cooter)
–Full Dark Spots on Marginal Scutes Distinguish It from Coastal Plain Cooter,
Which Has Dark Spots with Light-Colored Centers
Full Dark Spots on
Marginal Scutes
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Suwannee Cooter: Pseudemys suwanniensis
•Distribution:
–Restricted to Florida, But Upstream in Suwannee River into Southern GA
•Identification:
–Size: Medium-Sized, Up to 44 cm (17”), Largest Emydid Turtle in Specie
–Black Carapace (upper shell) with Yellow Markings
•Each Scute (scale) in Middle of Carapace Contains a Yellow “Backwards C”
–Light Orange or Yellow Plastron (lower shell) with Black Markings
–Green Skin with Yellow Stripes, Although It Darkens with Age
–Yellow Stripes on Neck and Head, Bluish-Green Eyes and Black Hind Feet
–Marked Similarly to River Cooter, But Lacking the Stripe on the Hind Feet
Notice: Absence of Yellow
Stripe on Hind legs
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Suwannee Cooter: Pseudemys suwanniensis (cont.)
Backwards Facing C-Shaped Lines
Not High-Lighted (hard to see)
Backwards Facing C-Shaped Lines
High-Lighted
Each scute (scale) in the middle of the carapace (top shell)
contains a yellow “backwards C”.
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Florida Red-Bellied Cooter: Pseudemys nelsoni
•Distribution:
–Found in Fresh or Brackish Water
•Prefers Places with Abundant Vegetation and Little Water Flow
•Common in Large Springs and Rivers in Central Florida
•Identification:
–Large: Up to 34 cm (13”)
–High-Domed, Olive-Brown to Blackish Shell, Patterned with Wide Faded
Reddish Markings
–Underside of Top Shell Is Orange or Rusty Red
•Head Is Streaked with Thin Yellow Lines, One of Which Is Centered Between
the Eyes, Ending Near the Nose to Form an “Arrow.”
–Distinguished from River and Pond Cooters by Serrated Pattern on Jaws
•Deep Notch in Front of Upper Jaw, Flanked on Sides by Conspicuous Cusps
•Not All Red-bellied Turtles Have Red Bellies, Especially Older Turtles
–Almost All Have Hint of Red on Stomachs and Red Hue Covering the Shell
Notice: Deep Notch in Upper Jaw
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Comparing Florida Snapper with Common Snapper
•Distribution:
–Two Subspecies of Common Snapping Turtle in North America
–Primarily Distinguished by Range:
•Common Snapping Turtle: Chelydra serpentina serpentina
–East of the Rockies, Except for Southern Portions of Texas and Florida
•Florida Snapping Turtle: Chelydra serpentina osceola
–Only Found in Florida and Georgia
•Identification:
–Difference between Florida and Common Snapping Turtles:
•Soft Spikes on Neck and Head Are Called Turbercles
–Common or Eastern Snappers: Tubercles Are Rounded or Blunt
–Florida Snapping Turtle: Tubercles Are Pointed
•Dangerous Turtle
–Never Touch a Snapping Turtle
–Jaws Are Strong and Snap Very Quickly: One Snap Could Bite Off a Finger
Florida Snapping Turtle (left) and Common Snapper (right)
Pointed Spikes (tubercles)
on FL Snapper
The snout of the Florida snapping turtle is more pointed than the common snapper.
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Florida Snapping Turtle: Chelydra serpentina osceola
•Distribution:
–Entire State of Florida
–Intergrades with Common Snapper in Northeastern Corner and Panhandle
–Bottom of Pond or Lake, Buried in Mud, Waiting for Next Meal to Pass By
•Identification:
–Size: Grows to Length of 43 cm (17”)
–Turbercles (soft spikes on the neck and head) Are Pointed
Snappers rarely bask in the sun as most other turtles do.
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Stinkpot (Common Musk) Turtle: Sternotherus odoratus
•Distribution:
–Eastern U.S. from Southern Maine to Florida
–Very Rarely Bask and Are Seldom Seen
–Mainly Nocturnal, Especially in Warmest Summer Months
•Identification:
–Release Foul Musky Odor from Scent Glands on Shell Edge to Deter Predation
•Small Turtle: Carapace Length of 5 to 12 cm (2 to 5.5”)
•Black, Grey or Brown with Highly-Domed Shells.
•Long Necks and Rather Short Legs
•Yellow-Green Lines on Neck
•Triangular Head, with a Pointed Snout and Sharp Beak
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