Florida Turtles Freshwater

Most freshwater turtles may be taken year round.
Florida turtles freshwater. Florida freshwater turtles are being illegally caught and exported live in increasingly large numbers to keep up with demand for their meat their supposed medicinal purposes and their value as. Florida red bellied cooter pseudemys nelsoni common box turtle terrapene carolina common slider trachemys scripta kinosternidae mud and musk turtles. Growing only to five inches in length the florida mud turtle is a petite turtle foraging off vegetation snails and mussels. Non native in florida keys apalone mutica le sueur 1827 smooth softshell apalone mutica calvata webb 1959 gulf coast smooth softshell apalone spinifera le sueur 1827 spiny softshell apalone spinifera aspera agassiz 1857 gulf coast spiny softshell.
Striped mud turtle kinosternon baurii eastern mud turtle kinosternon subrubrum loggerhead musk turtle sternotherus minor. On any given warm day a trip down the suwanee river for example provides tourists with views of dozens of basking water turtles occupying fallen trees and branches around every river bend. There are thirteen families in the order and more than 356 species therefore freshwater turtles are reptiles like snakes and lizards. Huge collection amazing choice 100 million high quality affordable rf and rm images.
In addition collecting of freshwater turtle eggs is. And that might cause changes in. The florida mud turtle found through out the state rarely moves away from its freshwater habitat of small creeks drainage ditches and marshes. The southeastern united states is one of the richest areas in the world for turtle diversity and florida is among the top states in turtle species numbers with over 30 native turtle species most of which are freshwater turtles.
Wild freshwater turtles live in ponds and lakes and they climb out of the water onto logs or rocks to bask in the warm sun. Find the perfect florida freshwater turtle stock photo. Besides freshwater turtles florida is home to the gopher tortoise box. Ample freshwater areas and the temperate climate of the northern part of the state explains much of the florida turtles diversity story.
Softshell turtles may not be taken from the wild from may 1 to july 31. Turtles are ancient shelled reptiles that have existed for 220 million years. Checklist of florida turtles click on thumbnails for a larger view apalone ferox schneider 1783 florida softshell. Taking turtles with bucket traps snares or shooting with firearms is prohibited.
Freshwater turtles can only be taken by hand dip net minnow seine or baited hook.