ID List 1 (Crocodilians and Turtles)

Alligator mississippiensis

American Alligator, FL native, live in SE USA, wide snouts, lower teeth aren’t visible when mouth is closed, young have prominent stripes

Crocodylus acutus

American Crocodile, FL native, live on FL coasts, thinner snout, upper and lower teeth always visible

Caiman crocodilus

Spectacled Caiman, native to Central/South America, light brown, bony ridge between eyes resembles spectacles

Chelydra serpentina

Common Snapping Turtle, FL native, live in C to E USA, long tail, sharp beak, relatively smooth and round carapace, bikini plastron

Macrochelys temminckii

Alligator Snapping Turtle, FL native, lives in N. FL and along Gulf Coast rivers, large head and beak, small eyes, jagged peaks on carapace, bikini plastron, uses tongue as a lure

Kinosternon subrubrum

Eastern Mud Turtle, FL native, live in SE USA, brown as adult, black and orange as young, triangular scutes on plastron

Kinosternon baurii

Striped Mud Turtle, FL native, live in E USA, striped shell and head, triangular scutes on plastron

Sternotherus odoratus

Eastern Musk Turtle/Stinkpot, FL native, live in C to E USA, striped face, fleshy spot in the center of the plastron, rectangular scutes on plastron

Pseudemys nelsoni

Florida Red-bellied Cooter, FL native, nearly endemic, orange/red plastron, humped and tall shell, wide brown stripes on shell, live in slow-moving waters

Pseudemys floridana

Coastal Plain Cooter, FL native, narrow brown stripes on shell, small and streamlined shell, live in fast-moving waters, bright yellow plastron

Deirochelys reticularia

Chicken Turtle, FL native, live in S USA, long neck, striped “pants,” black bar on bridge, ephemeral wetlands specialists, pear-shaped

Trachemys scripta

Pond Slider, FL native, live in S USA until N FL, get darker shells as they age, yellow stripes on face and neck, yellow or red “ear” mark

Malaclemys terrapin

Diamondback Terrapin, FL native, live in SE USA in brakish waters, black spots

Terrapene carolina

Eastern Box Turtle, FL native, live in SE USA, many varied shell patterns, entirely terrestrial

Apalone ferox

Florida Softshell, FL native, shell has fleshy coating, snorkel nose, very sharp beak and claws, very aggressive

Gopherus polyphemus

Gopher Tortoise, FL native, sides of shell go straight down, very social, burrows are occupied by multiple individuals and used by other animals, young have scutes with yellow center