Cooters are one of the more commonly seen turtles when visiting a freshwater system. They are relatively large for a freshwater turtle (with a carapace about 13 inches long) and are often seen basking on logs, rocks, aerator pumps, you name ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Cooters are common freshwater turtles throughout the state of Florida. There are currently three species listed: Pseudemys concinna – commonly known as the “river cooter”, Pseudemys floridana – referred to as the “Florida cooter”, ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
They call it a slider… Maybe because they slide off a tree trunks into the water? Honestly, I really don’t know – but sliders it is. They are very common pond turtles all across the eastern and mid-west portions of the United States ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural ResourcesIn my time educating the public about Florida turtles I have found that most Floridians have not heard of diamondback terrapins. They have heard of, and seen turtles, but are not sure what the names of the different species are and are not ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
Map turtles (Graptemys) are pretty common across much of the eastern and midwest areas of the United States. Not so much in Florida. There are only two species, and they are only found in the panhandle. However, the range for those two species ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, WildlifeBet you have never heard of these? Chicken Turtles? But they exist! And the reason you probably have not heard of them is because, unlike so many other turtles, they do not spend a lot of time in the water. Chicken turtles are ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, WildlifeThese are some of the more familiar Florida turtles we have. Working with youth, I often hear them called “snapping turtles” because (a) these are the most common turtles they encounter, and (b) snapping turtles are the only name they know ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural ResourcesWith the Spotted Turtle we begin a series of species that are often called “pond turtles”. These belong to one of the largest families – the Family Emydidae. It includes not only the spotted turtle but the box turtles, chicken turtles, ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural ResourcesAs with mud turtles, full grown musk turtles are no bigger than your hand. They differ from mud turtles in that they have a single hinge on their plastron and the scutes just above that hinge are rectangular instead of triangular. Like mud ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural ResourcesThis is a new one for many of you… mud turtles. Most have never heard of them. They are very small turtles with oval shaped, domed shells that have hinges similar to box turtles. There are actually two genera within this family of small ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources