| Suwannee snapping turtle | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | Chelydridae |
| Genus: | Macrochelys |
| Species: | M. suwanniensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Macrochelys suwanniensis | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
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]
Size
This species appears to exhibit sexual dimorphism, with males tending to be larger than females. In samples from 6 distinct ecological reaches running downstream between White Springs and Suwannee Estuary, mature females were found to have a straight-midline carapace length between 351-550 mm, while mature males had a straight-midline carapace length between 451-650 mm. Males found had an average straight-midline carapace of 552 ± 7.1 mm, carapace width of 458 ± 5.2 mm, plastron length of 400 ± 4.2 mm, head width of 177 ± 2.3 mm, tail length of 330 ± 4.1 mm, and mass of 38.0 ± 1.2 kg. In comparison, females had an average straight-midline carapace of 416 ± 7.5 mm, carapace width of 358 ± 6.7 mm, plastron length of 313 ± 6.3 mm, head width of 134 ± 3.7 mm, tail length of 292 ± 6.6 mm, and mass of 16.6 ± 0.8 kg. Environment appears to play a large role in size determination, as each ecological reach has various implications on average size and mass. [8]
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. [9] [10] [11]
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).
- ^ Ch, Houston; ler (2021-11-02). "Research Update: Exciting Developments from our Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle Projects". The Orianne Society. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
- ^ Thomas, Travis M.; Enge, Kevin M.; Suarez, Eric; Barry, Savanna C.; Johnson, Steve A. (2023-06-14). "Variation in Relative Abundance, Population Structure, and Body Size of the Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys suwanniensis) in the Suwannee River". Southeastern Naturalist. 22 (sp12). doi: 10.1656/058.022.0sp1216. ISSN 1528-7092.
- ^ "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.