live specimens turtles 2

Family trionychidae (hatchling sex genetic) snorkels - 3 clawed

Apalone ferox

Apalone spinifera

Apalone ferox (Florida man)

Carapace dark brown with dark mottled pattern (front shell edge flattens small bumps)

Plastron: grey/white; underside of neck white

Head and limbs mottled grey (thick)

Apalone spinifera (spiny fella)

Carapace light tan/olive

Black spots and rings on carapace

Cream colored plastron, 2 white lines on side of head

Spiny projections on front of carapace

Family Chelydridae (sounds like shell) or chill ❄ keep away from your children

Snap when stressed, longest tails, hooked beaks, TSD

Chelydra serpentina

Macrochelys temminckii/suwanniensis

Chelydra serpentina (snakes are common)

Med dark brown carapace, sculptured, and serrated edge

Plastron: yellowish and reduced in size

long thick tapering tail+long neck (tubercles + mottled neck and head)

Macrochelys temminckii

3 rows of keeled scutes along carapace and tails

Supramarginal scutes (1-5)

Eyes encircled by fleshy projections

Worm-like lure inside strong jaw

Macrochelys suwanniensis

U caudal notch

Macrochelys temminckii

W 🗻 caudal notch

Order Crocodilia

Family Alligatoridae

(Alligator mississippiensis)

Family Kinosternidae

Aquatic (shallow waters), 1+ hinge, moderately domed carapace, musk

Sternotherus minor/peltifer

Sternotherus odoratus

Kinosternon baurii

Kinosternon subrubrum

Sternotherus minor/peltifer

Plastron small, single gular scute

Carapace tan to dark brown (dark streaking)

Pair of barbells on chin

Sternotherus minor

Large/brown/grey head with many small black spots

Plastron: pale

Sternotherus peltifer (little splotches of rain on face)

Yellow broken stripes on head

Orangish plastron

Sternotherus odoratus (poo streaks)

Dark brown or black carapace (mottled)

2 distinct stripes on head

Small plastron (exposed skin between)

Phenoalkalinic acid secretions from glands

(K) plastron Kinosternon baurii (bars)

Black, brown carapace with 3 cream stripes

Full or broken stripes on heads

Kinosternon subrubrum (plastron is uniform like houses in suburbs)

Dark olive brown carapace

Brown-yellow skin; yellow-red plastron

Mottled head

Family Testudinae

Gopherus polyphemus

High domed shells, growth rings, elephantine rear, primarily herbivorous, terrestrial + dry

Gopherus polyphemus

Plastron unhinged (extended gular scute)

Large front legs; long flat nails

Family Cheloniidae

Low domed shells with reduced plastrons

Omnivorous

🐢Caretta caretta

🐢Chelonia mydas

🐢Eretmochelys imbricata

🐢Lepidochelys kempii

Dermochelyidae

Soft shelled sea turtle

🐢Dermochelys coricea

Caretta Caretta

Bright orange red/ brown carapace

1 claw, 1+ pair of prefrontal scales, 5 lateral scutes

Chelonia mydas

Short unhooked beak

1 claw, 1 pair of prefrontal scales, 4 lateral scales

Eretmochelys imbricata (sounds like Elmo) looks red- for 4 year olds

Mottled shells of amber, orange, yellow, red

Shells commonly have serrated edges w/overlapping scutes

Hawk-like head

2 pairs of prefrontal scales, 4 lateral scutes, 2 claws

Lepidochelys kempii (many lipids) 6+

Smallest sea turtle in world, triangular shaped head

1 claw, 1+ prefrontal scales, 6 or more lateral scutes

Dermochelys coriacea (cori) is big in insta (ace)a breed- communal living

HUGE, backward facing spines in throats, black rubbery skin with lighter underside, flippers longer than other turtles (migration)

No scales or claws!