Suwannee snapping turtle
Suwannee snapping turtle | |
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Conservation status
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Cryptodira |
Family: | Chelydridae |
Genus: | Macrochelys |
Species: | M. suwanniensis
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Binomial name | |
Macrochelys suwanniensis et al., 2014[2]
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The Suwannee snapping turtle (Macrochelys suwanniensis) is a species of very large freshwater turtle in the family Chelydridae. This species is endemic to the southeastern United States, where it only inhabits the Suwannee River basin.[3][4]
Taxonomy[]
It is one of only two known species in the genus Macrochelys, the other being the far more widespread alligator snapping turtle (M. temminckii); a third, the Apalachicola snapping turtle (M. apalachicolae), which was described alongside M. suwanniensis, is not thought to be distinct from M. temminckii and has been synonymized with it. It was previously believed to represent a population of Macrochelys temminckii, but a 2014 study found significant genetic divergence between the Suwannee and alligator snapping turtles, dating back to the late Miocene to early Pliocene, about 5.5 to 13.4 million years ago, and thus the Suwannee population was described as a distinct species, M. suwanniensis.[5]
Distribution and habitat[]
This species is only found in the Suwannee River basin, in southern Georgia and northern portions of peninsular Florida; it is allopatric with respect to M. temminckii, which inhabits river basins further to the west. It inhabits only riparian habitats such as rivers and their tributaries, but sometimes utilizes backwater swamps and oxbow lakes. Individuals found in inland lakes have likely been introduced.[6] In 2021, an individual was discovered in the Okefenokee Swamp, indicating that a previously-undocumented population of snapping turtles may inhabit the swamp.[7]
Threats[]
Due to its slow generation time, it is highly vulnerable to direct stressors such as turtle hunting (illegal in Florida) and indirect stressors such as habitat destruction, which pollutes the water it inhabits. In 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the species under the Endangered Species Act.[8][9][10]
References[]
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
- ^ Thomas, T. M.; Granatosky, M. C.; Bourque, J. R.; Krysko, K. L.; Moler, P. E.; Gamble, T.; Suarez, E.; Leone, E.; Enge, K. M.; Roman, J. (9 April 2014). "Taxonomic assessment of Alligator Snapping Turtles (Chelydridae: Macrochelys), with the description of two new species from the southeastern United States". Zootaxa. 3786 (2): 141–165. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3786.2.4. PMID 24869532.
- ^ Stephenie Livingston (April 10, 2014). "Study shows 'dinosaurs of the turtle world' at risk in Southeast rivers". University of Florida News. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014.
- ^ Joshua E. Brown (April 24, 2014). "Research splits alligator snapping turtle, 'dinosaur of the turtle world,' into three species". Phys.org.
- ^ John R. Platt (April 17, 2014). "Alligator Snapping Turtles, the Dinosaurs of the Turtle World, Are Actually 3 at-Risk Species". Scientific American.
- ^ Florida Natural Areas Inventory (2018). "Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle" (PDF).
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Ch, Houston; ler (2021-11-02). "Research Update: Exciting Developments from our Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle Projects". The Orianne Society. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
- ^ "Endangered Species Protection Proposed for Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle". Center for Biological Diversity. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
- ^ "Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle Proposed Listing as Threatened". Southeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
- NatureServe imperiled species
- Chelydridae
- Reptiles described in 2014
- Reptiles of the United States
- Aquatic reptiles