DOCSLIB.ORG

VIRGINIA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN No. 58

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
VIRGINIA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN No. 58 VIRGINIA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN No. 58 DISTRIBUTION OF THE TURTLES OF VIRGINIA (1968) Va. Herpetological Survey In order to get a general view It is the hope of all of us who of the distribution of turtles in are putting our efforts behind the Virginia a number of collections Virginia Herpetological Survey to of preserved specimens had to be greatly improve the number of in­ checked. The data have been put dividual species and counties cov­ on a series of maps of the state ered over the next few years. It of Virginia. Other references or can be done by: (a) submitting any texts have been checked and addi­ collecting notes; (b) preserving a tional information included. It dead specimen; (c) sending collec­ is a beginning -- but by no means ting data with the specimen to any complete -- and inaccuracies may scientific collection;'(d) a carbon have crept into the tabulation. copy for forwarding to VHS with an institutional number for reference The accompanying pages will, by and confirmation of identification; the number of question marks and and (e) making certain that living "expected" entries, point up very specimens of value (county record) dramatically just how little data find their way into these channels exists. VHS needs the assistance as soon as their condition shows a of all interested persons: adults need for this treatment. and student collectors. Filling in the gaps can give a "sense of ("Notes on Preserving Specimens" mission" or accomplishment to any and developing collections were field trips by individuals • or by published in VHS Bulletin No. 48.) groups. Your contributions) col­ lecting notes, or preferably, pre­ Remember, careful collecting and served specimens, will help sup­ record keeping, plus proper pre­ ply badly needed range data. serving techniques, will render a considerable service to scientific If you know of preserved speci­ knowledge of the reptiles of Virgi­ mens of Virginia turtles in other nia and adjacent states. collections -- private, scientif­ ic (college or museum) -- please Among- the collections searched-- drop a'note to VHS telling .'where by Mr. William L. Witt, VHSt - were these specimens may be seen. Give the following: 'American Museum of any other data on the specimen a- Natural History; Cornell Universi­ vailable -- county, locality, and ty, Ithaca, N.Y.; Museum of Com­ name and address of collector. parative Zoology, Harvard Univer­ sity, Boston, Mass.; University of Please check over collections Maryland, College Park, Md,; and close by for additional specimens U.S. National Museum, Washington, from counties which are marked as D.C. either "?" or "e" and also "L". Officers and Members, VHS r N VHS BULLETIN No. 58 Page two THE TURTLES OF VIRGINIA /"i .Atlantic Loggerhead Caretta caretta caretta Y' 2.Atlantic Green Turtle CHeTonia mydas mydas *-''"3.Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina serpentina ^.Eastern Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta picta ^.Midland Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta marginata */B .Spotted Turtle r Clemmys guttata 1/7.Wood Turtle -Clemmys insculpta //£.Bog Turtle t Clemmys muhlenHirgi 1/9.Eastern Chicken Turtle Deirochelys reticularia reticularia 10. Atlantic Leatherback Dermochelys coriacea coriacea 11. Atlantic Hawksbill Eretmochelys Tmbricata imbricata 12. Map Turtle Grept-emys geographica ^13.Ouachita Map Turtle pseudogeographica ouachitensis *■'"14. Eastern Mud Turtle Kinosternon subrubrum subrub rum 15.Atlantic Ridley Lepidochelys oUjzax^ea- kempi i/ 16.Northern Diamond-backed Terrapin Malaclemmys terrapin terrapin ,River Cooter Ps-eudomys concinna concinna ^18.Florida Cooter C/vrX<^>J^sPseudomys concinna floridana 9.Red-bellied Turtle /20 .Yellow-bellied Turtle / 2 \.Cumberland Turtle /"22 .St ripe-necked Musk Turtle minor peltifer u^2 3.Stinkpot Sternotherus odoratus /24.Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene Carolina Carolina /^25.Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle Trionyx spinifer spinifer Over fifty turtles from Virginia A letter, now five years old, in counties are preserved in the col­ the VHS files of "personal commu­ lection of reptiles and amphibians nications" tells how a VHS member at the Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, (now in military service) then a Pennsylvania. Early in the pro­ student at Duke University, kept cess of collecting data on turtles watch on a breeding pair of Red- of Virginia, Neil D. Richmond pro­ bellied Turtles in Prince George vided VHS with species and county County, Va., near his home. The data. This kind of assistance is turtle is recorded for five coun­ welcomed by VHS. Keep VHS posted; ties, including Prince George. In VHS Bulletin No. 29 it was Shortly after, a Bog Turtle speci­ suggested that the Bog Turtle may men was taken in Floyd County, Va. turn up in intermont valleys of "* This, and a literature record (Dr.’ the Blue Ridge in soutfives tern Va., E.R. Dunn) for Oakton, Fairfax Co., based on a capture in nearby N.C. are the only two records known. Your comments, additions, corrections, etc. to this tabulation are most welcome. ; r * - VHS BULLETIN No. 58 Page three TURTLES OF VIRGINIA BY COUNTIES (Accomack through Cumberland) A-C >5 X -P H B •t-4 0 X 0 o g -p x cd O 0 *H G Jbd rH c ■p o g o £ X 1—1 0 -P <G G cd o G cd ■P-P 4^ (tf T) G •r-4 cd to i—i G r—J CQ -P G 0 1—I cd cd X rt} CQ cd hO-P G o C G 0 •H r—1 0 o 0 0 a, G b b hO *H ^ B C to O x -p CQ cd •H X 1—1 o i—1 i—[ -P JsJ 60 0 0 o 0 <D* o o p x c 0 G x a o G G G CQ G •h a X O X> H (I) Xl i—I hO -Px Td cd -p G_ o_ o_ B_ G G cd cd 0_ cd cd £ O i—I i—i B E a g 2 cd0 <-H o g GGtfcdcdXXX^ g g 5 < <d < < < < < < CQ CQ CQ CQ CQ CQ CQ o o o o o o O O Q O 1. LOGGERHEAD T. ? 2. GREEN TURTLE ? 3. COMMON SNAPPING X X X eeeeeXeeeeeeeeeeeXeee 4. E.PAINTED T. X e eee X e Xee eee ee 5. X MIDLAND X e e e e e e e e 6.SPOTTED TURTLE X e ? ?? e X ??*-■? -e e?e e ? e e ? X e 7. WOOD TURTLE X ? ? e e 8. BOG TURTLE 9 9 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 9 ? 9 99 9 9 9 . ' 9. E.CHICKEN T. ? 10. LEATHERBACK ? 11. HAWB3BILL T. ? 12. MAP TURTLE 13.OUACHITA FLAP T. 14. EASTERN MUD T. X e e X X X e e eee e e 15. RIDLEY ? 16. N. DIAMONDBACK e e 17. RIVER CCOTER ? .e e e e 18. FLORIDA COOTER 19. RED-BELLIED T. e e e ? 20. YELLOW-BELL'D 21 .CUMBERLAND T. 22.STRIPE-NECKED 23.STINKPOT , e X X eeeeeeeeeeeeXeeeeeeee 24. E. BOX TURTLE Xe X. eeXeeXeXeeeeeeeeeXeee 25. E.SPINY SOFT- • SHELL KEY: X - county record L - literature record e - expected (or observed) ? - does it occur ? VHS BULLETIN No 58 Page four TURTLES OF VIRGINIA BY COUNTIES (Dickenson through King William) u .jc -p .G G E bO 0 0 cO G i—1 •H >s 0 bO •H G 0 id 0 r) i—1 ^ -P G rH O •f—J G CO G o -P G •rA T? *P c5 O i—I CO 0 G •H °H ra ' cO G ; > X g o G <P O 0 ♦r~l G ■P cO •H G i—1 G 0 r—1 o 0 CO cO 0 o CO O o 0 •P *5 <P G cO id 0 CO o ,G cO G G <p > •r-4 ca Id 0 G cr >s > G TJ 0 G o >s 0 0 •p O G g ,c 0 0 bO bO bO O G co •P G O G CO 0 i—i O o cO 0 0 i—i g c g bO i—i E g c g •P •P 0 cO CO rP i—I G G •P rP o G G G cO cd 0 0 •P CO cO •P «P «P P P W Ph Ph lx, Ph Ph o o o O a P w K K H h3 WWW 1.LOGGERHEAD T. ? ,* , j_ 2.GREEN TURTLE ? 3.COMMON SNAPPING e e e X e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e • X 4.E.PAINTED T. e e X e e e e X e e e e e e e e\ •X e 5.X MIDLAND P. e e <=. e e e e 6.SPOTTED TURTLE e e X e e e e e e e X e X e e e 7.WOOD TURTLE X e X ? ? ;* r 8.BOG TURTLE L e X e e e e ? e e 9 e e + ’I X* 9.E.CHICKEN T. 7 ■ 10.LEATHERBACK ? * r, J ( ll.HAVKSBILL T. ? - 12.MAP TURTLE i » t 13.OUACHITA MAP T. IC} v 1 f 14.E/\STERW MUD T. e e X e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e 15.RIDLEY X r "l-J0 ; : * *’ ■ 16.N.DIAM0NDBACK e e e e1e e e X 17.RIVER COOTER e e X e e e *? ? e e e e e ‘ e e e e e 18.FLORIDA COOTER ? ? e e e e e e • ' -r 19.RED-BELLIED T. ? X X ? e ? e e e e e X e » : 20. YELLOW-BELL' D e ■1 '<! ’ 21. CUMBERLAND T.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • AN INTRODUCTION to Texas Turtles
    TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE AN INTRODUCTION TO Texas Turtles Mark Klym An Introduction to Texas Turtles Turtle, tortoise or terrapin? Many people get confused by these terms, often using them interchangeably. Texas has a single species of tortoise, the Texas tortoise (Gopherus berlanderi) and a single species of terrapin, the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin). All of the remaining 28 species of the order Testudines found in Texas are called “turtles,” although some like the box turtles (Terrapene spp.) are highly terrestrial others are found only in marine (saltwater) settings. In some countries such as Great Britain or Australia, these terms are very specific and relate to the habit or habitat of the animal; in North America they are denoted using these definitions. Turtle: an aquatic or semi-aquatic animal with webbed feet. Tortoise: a terrestrial animal with clubbed feet, domed shell and generally inhabiting warmer regions. Whatever we call them, these animals are a unique tie to a period of earth’s history all but lost in the living world. Turtles are some of the oldest reptilian species on the earth, virtually unchanged in 200 million years or more! These slow-moving, tooth­ less, egg-laying creatures date back to the dinosaurs and still retain traits they used An Introduction to Texas Turtles | 1 to survive then. Although many turtles spend most of their lives in water, they are air-breathing animals and must come to the surface to breathe. If they spend all this time in water, why do we see them on logs, rocks and the shoreline so often? Unlike birds and mammals, turtles are ectothermic, or cold- blooded, meaning they rely on the temperature around them to regulate their body temperature.
    [Show full text]
  • In AR, FL, GA, IA, KY, LA, MO, OH, OK, SC, TN, and TX): Species in Red = Depleted to the Point They May Warrant Federal Endangered Species Act Listing
    Southern and Midwestern Turtle Species Affected by Commercial Harvest (in AR, FL, GA, IA, KY, LA, MO, OH, OK, SC, TN, and TX): species in red = depleted to the point they may warrant federal Endangered Species Act listing Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) – AR, GA, IA, KY, MO, OH, OK, SC, TX Florida common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina osceola) - FL Southern painted turtle (Chrysemys dorsalis) – AR Western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) – IA, MO, OH, OK Spotted turtle (Clemmys gutatta) - FL, GA, OH Florida chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia chrysea) – FL Western chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia miaria) – AR, FL, GA, KY, MO, OK, TN, TX Barbour’s map turtle (Graptemys barbouri) - FL, GA Cagle’s map turtle (Graptemys caglei) - TX Escambia map turtle (Graptemys ernsti) – FL Common map turtle (Graptemys geographica) – AR, GA, OH, OK Ouachita map turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis) – AR, GA, OH, OK, TX Sabine map turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis sabinensis) – TX False map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica) – MO, OK, TX Mississippi map turtle (Graptemys pseuogeographica kohnii) – AR, TX Alabama map turtle (Graptemys pulchra) – GA Texas map turtle (Graptemys versa) - TX Striped mud turtle (Kinosternon baurii) – FL, GA, SC Yellow mud turtle (Kinosternon flavescens) – OK, TX Common mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum) – AR, FL, GA, OK, TX Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) – AR, FL, GA, LA, MO, TX Diamond-back terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) – FL, GA, LA, SC, TX River cooter (Pseudemys concinna) – AR, FL,
    [Show full text]
  • Turtles of the Upper Mississippi River System
    TURTLES OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER SYSTEM Tom R. Johnson and Jeffrey T. Briggler Herpetologists Missouri Department of Conservation Jefferson City, MO March 27, 2012 Background: A total of 13 species and subspecies of turtles are known to live in the Upper Mississippi River, its backwaters and tributaries. There are a few species that could be found occasionally, but would likely account for less than 5% of the species composition of any area. These species are predominantly marsh animals and are discussed in a separate section of this paper. For additional information on turtle identification and natural history see Briggler and Johnson (2006), Christiansen and Bailey (1988), Conant and Collins (1998), Ernst and Lovich (2009), Johnson (2000), and Vogt (1981). This information is provided to the fisheries field staff of the LTRM project so they will be able to identify the turtles captured during fish monitoring. The most current taxonomic information of turtles was used to compile this material. The taxonomy followed in this publication is the Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding (6th edition) by Crothers (2008). Species Identification, Natural History and Distribution: What follows is a synopsis of the 13 turtle species and subspecies which are known to occur in the Upper Mississippi River environs. Species composition changes between the upper and lower reaches of the LTRM study area (Wisconsin/Minnesota state line and southeastern Missouri) due to changes in aquatic habitats. For example, the Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) is abundant in the northern portion of the river with clearer water and abundant snail prey.
    [Show full text]
  • Information from Wisconsin DNR Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys Picta Bellii)
    TURTLES OF WISCONSIN Information from Wisconsin DNR Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) Size: carapace 4 to 8 in. Description: Wisconsin has two subspecies of painted turtles that intergrade throughout much of the state. The western subspecies is typically found in extreme northwestern and western portions of the state. The painted turtle is distinguished by a relatively flat, smooth, keelless carapace that lacks serrations along the rear edge. The western’s carapace tends to be greenish, but is sometimes blackish. Its plastron is usually light orange to reddish with a large symmetrical “oak leaf” shaped gray blotch covering much of it. The western painted turtle’s head and legs are dark with thin yellow stripes. Painted turtles prefer to live in marshes, ponds, shallow bays of lakes, and backwaters of rivers that support dense aquatic vegetation. The western painted turtle is Wisconsin’s most abundant turtle species. Stinkpot Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) Size: carapace 3.5 to 5.5 in. Description: The common musk, one of the world’s smallest turtles, is also known as the stinkpot; an appropriate name considering the foul musk it emits when seized. Its carapace is brownish-black, elongated and domed. Its plastron, which is reduced in size, allows the legs a greater range of motion than most turtles, but also makes the stinkpot more vulnerable to predators. Its head has a sharply pointed snout with two thin, whitish-yellow stripes running along either side and onto the neck. The stinkpot has small, poorly webbed feet and short legs. They prefer habitats with abundant aquatic vegetation, which they use for climbing to the surface.
    [Show full text]
  • Graptemys Ouachitensis Cagle 1953 – Ouachita Map Turtle
    Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation ProjectEmydidae of the IUCN — SSC Graptemys Tortoise and ouachitensis Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 103.1 A.G.J. Rhodin, J.B. Iverson, P.P. van Dijk, K.A. Buhlmann, P.C.H. Pritchard, and R.A. Mittermeier, Eds. Chelonian Research Monographs (ISSN 1088-7105) No. 5, doi:10.3854/crm.5.103.ouachitensis.v1.2018 © 2018 by Chelonian Research Foundation and Turtle Conservancy • Published 24 March 2018 Graptemys ouachitensis Cagle 1953 – Ouachita Map Turtle RICHARD C. VOGT1 1Coordinaçao de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, 2936 Av. André Araújo, Petrópolis, CEP 69.067-375, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil [[email protected]; [email protected]] SUMMARY. – The Ouachita Map Turtle, Graptemys ouachitensis (Family Emydidae), is a medium- sized river turtle (carapace length to 160 mm in males, 260 mm in females) common in large rivers and oxbow lakes in areas of moderate to rapid current, primarily within the Mississippi River drainage of the central United States. Ouachita Map Turtles prefer large clear water rivers, males are more likely to be found in areas with strong current, while females can often be found feeding in backwater areas; they are known to hibernate behind wing dams in the Mississippi River. Some individuals may have a wide complete postorbital crescent separating the orbit from the lateral neck stripes; this crescent may be broken with or without one to four stripes entering into contact with the orbit. The under surface of the head is characterized by four prominent bright yellow spots, one on each mandible, one at the jaw symphysis, and another in the gular region.
    [Show full text]
  • Heinrich and Walsh (2019)
    THE BIG TURTLE YEAR LOOKING FOR WILD TURTLES IN WILD PLACES By George L. Heinrich and Timothy J. Walsh e like looking for wild turtles in wild We both liked turtles as kids, but now, many places. From the time George was in years later, we understand the important ecological Welementary school catching Wood roles they play. Some turtle species serve as indica- Turtles in southwestern Connecticut and Tim tors of environmental health, while others are clas- found his first pebble-sized Striped Mud Turtle sified as keystone species (those that play a vital at age 10 in a south Florida stream, we have both ecological role in a given habitat), umbrella spe- marveled at being in nature and searching for these cies (those whose conservation benefits the larger fascinating reptiles. As children, little did we know ecological community), or flagship species (iconic that our time spent exploring our neighborhood symbols of habitat conservation efforts). Perhaps woods would lead to rewarding careers in wildlife one of the best examples of the ecological signifi- conservation. Now we are both officers with the cance of turtles is the Gopher Tortoise, an imper- Florida Turtle Conservation Trust, an organization iled species that occurs in a six-state range within working to conserve Florida’s rich turtle diversity. the Southeastern Coastal Plain of the United States. In 2017 we created the opportunity of a Appropriately, the Gopher Tortoise was the first lifetime with the Trust’s conservation education species we found on day one of The Big Turtle Year. initiative: The Big Turtle Year, an ambitious plan to travel across the United States and back again SoutheaSt Regional highlightS trying to find as many species as we could.
    [Show full text]
  • Home Range Testudines
    Testudines HOME RANGE - What is the home range size for the species? Species Common Name Home Range Cheloniidae sea turtles Caretta c. caretta Atlantic loggerhead Unk Chelonia m. mydas Atlantic green turtle some populations are apparently resident in the breeding area and do not migrate to and from the nesting beach, but others have nesting and foraging areas that are widely separated (sometimes by over 1,000 km) (Ernst et al. 1994) Eretmochelys i. imbricata Atlantic hawksbill Unk Lepidochelys kempii Kemp’s ridley or Atlantic ridley Unk Dermochelyidae leatherback sea turtles Dermochelys c. coriacea Atlantic leatherback Unk Chelydridae snapping turtles Chelydra s. serpentina eastern snapping turtle in Pennsylvanina, nine adults…had estimated home ranges averaging 1.8 ha (Ernst 1968b) Emydidae pond turtles Chrysemys p. picta eastern painted turtle Unk (Zweifel 1989) Chrysemys p. marginata midland painted turtle Unk (Zweifel 1989) Clemmys guttata spotted turtle both males and females have mean home ranges of 0.50-0.53 ha (Ernst et al. 1994) Clemmys insculpta wood turtle 3.9 - 5.8 ha (Kaufmann 1995, Tuttle and Carroll 1997); mean home range size was 447 m (Ernst et al. 1994); Pennsylvania male and female wood turtles had home ranges of 2.5 ha and 0.07 ha, respectively (Ernst 1968b) Clemmys muhlenbergii bog turtle in Maryland, home ranges of males (mean 0.176 ha) were significantly larger than those of females (mean 0.066 ha) (Chase et al. 1989); male Pennsylvania bog turtles also have larger home ranges (mean 1.33 ha) than females (mean 1.26 ha) (Ernst 1977) Deirochelys r.
    [Show full text]
  • The Distribution of Aquatic Turtles Along the Ohio, Great Kanawha, and Little Kanawha Rivers, West Virginia, with Emphasis on Graptemys Ouachitensis and G
    Ohio Biological Survey Notes 3: 21-28, 2011. © Ohio Biological Survey, Inc. The Distribution of Aquatic Turtles along the Ohio, Great Kanawha, and Little Kanawha Rivers, West Virginia, with Emphasis on Graptemys ouachitensis and G. geographica. AARON C. GOOLEY1*, H. JAMES STANTON2, CASEY J. BARTKUS2, AND THOMAS K. PAULEY2 1Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 6290 [email protected]; 2Department of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25755; (*primary contact) Abstract: Visual surveys were conducted to investigate the spatial distribution of the Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) and the Ouachita Map Turtle (Graptemys o. ouachitensis) in the Ohio, Great Kanawha, and Little Kanawha rivers, West Virginia, from May 24 to August 8, 2010. Both species were detected and photographed on the Ohio, Great Kanawha, and Little Kanawha rivers. Ouachita Map Turtles were documented in 3 new counties and Northern Map Turtles were documented in 2 new counties. Additionally, new county records were documented for Eastern Spiny Softshells (Apalone s. spinifera) and Eastern Musk Turtles (Sternotherus odoratus) and 42 photographs were deposited as vouchers at the West Virginia Biological Survey Museum. Further investigation is needed to determine the extent and continuity of Ouachita Map Turtle range in the Ohio River and its tributaries. Key Words: Graptemys ouachitensis, Graptemys geographica, distribution, map turtle, basking Introduction Turtles are relatively understudied in West Virginia (Phu 2010). Map turtles in particular are not well known, yet they may be vulnerable to the pollution, siltation, habitat alteration, and power boating seen on West Virginia’s rivers (Moll and Moll 2004; Bodie 2001; Vandewalle and Christiansen 1996).
    [Show full text]
  • Chelonian Advisory Group Regional Collection Plan 4Th Edition December 2015
    Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Chelonian Advisory Group Regional Collection Plan 4th Edition December 2015 Editor Chelonian TAG Steering Committee 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Mission ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Steering Committee Structure ........................................................................................................... 3 Officers, Steering Committee Members, and Advisors ..................................................................... 4 Taxonomic Scope ............................................................................................................................. 6 Space Analysis Space .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Survey ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Current and Potential Holding Table Results ............................................................................. 8 Species Selection Process Process ..................................................................................................................................... 11 Decision Tree ........................................................................................................................... 13 Decision Tree Results .............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • A Survey of Turtles of Eastern Oklahoma: a Cause for Concern?
    Diversity, Ecological Function, and Conservation Status of Riverine Turtles in Oklahoma: An Overview for Water Resource Managers Tim Patton Dept. Biological Sciences Southeastern Oklahoma State University Diversity 356 species worldwide 61 Species in North America SE United States is a biodiversity hotspot and evolutionary core Map source: Tennessee Aquarium Diversity 19 species in OK ~14 spp ~15 spp 6 species 18 species Relative Biomass Turtles often make-up significant proportion of biomass (Iverson 1982) General summary by Lovich (2018): • Temporary aggregations up to several 1000’s of kg/ha • Why so high? • Ectothermy • Conversion efficiency • Trophic position • Susceptibility to predation • Ecological tolerances Trophic Importance Large predator base Large prey base (esp. eggs and young) Conveyors of lower trophic levels Energy vector between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems Mineral vectors (e.g., Ca and Sr) Trophic Importance Some have shown to be keystone species Some important seed dispersers Some have shown top-down effect Some have shown bottom-up effect Many with significant bioturbation Virtually all studied have been shown to have important role in systems Worldwide declines of herpetofauna: Amphibians in general (Blaustein et al. 1994) As many as 1/3 of all amphibians threatened with extinction (Stuart et al. 2004) Reptiles in general (Gibbons et al. 2000) Random review of 1,500 species found 19% in danger of extinction (Bohm et al. 2013) As many as 30% of freshwater reptiles close to extinction (Bohm et al. 2013) 55% of turtles are threatened, mostly freshwater species (Rhodin et al. 2010) 61% threatened or extinct (Lovich et al. 2018) Turtles likely the most imperiled taxa of vertebrates Diversity 61 Species in North America 10 Species listed under ESA (16%) However….
    [Show full text]
  • False Map Turtle Subspecies Is More Common in the Missouri River Population
    crayfish, and worms. It basks in the sun on logs or other objects at the water’s edge. It may remain active in the winter months, but normally will bury itself in mud for the duration of the coldest weather. Mating occurs in spring. The female digs a nest in soil some distance from the water, depositing 10 to 16 eggs. Eggs hatch in late July to September. The Ouachita map turtle and intergrades dominate the Mississippi River population while the false map turtle subspecies is more common in the Missouri River population. Habitats Missouri River; interior rivers and streams; constructed lakes, ponds, and reservoirs Iowa Status common; native Iowa Range false map turtle eastern third of Iowa and western edge Graptemys pseudogeographica Bibliography Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 2001. Kingdom: Animalia Biodiversity of Iowa: Aquatic Habitats CD-ROM. Division/Phylum: Chordata - vertebrates Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Emydidae Features The female false map turtle ranges from five to 10 3/4 inches long, while the male is about 3 1/2 to 7 3/4 inches long. It has yellow boomerang- shaped or L-shaped markings just behind the eyes and yellow lines on the head, neck, legs, and tail. The brown, olive, or tan carapace (upper shell) appears oval from above. The center of the carapace, the keel (ridge), has spikes and the back of the carapace has projections like the teeth of a saw. This turtle has webbed toes and the male has very long toenails on the front feet. There are two subspecies of false map turtles in Iowa (false map turtle and the Ouachita map turtle).
    [Show full text]
  • Emergency Rulemaking Request to Repeal Georgia's Turtle Collection
    BEFORE THE COMMISISON OF THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESORUCES AND THE GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA Barbour’s map turtle (Graptemys barbouri) – USGS photo EMERGENCY RULEMAKING REQUEST TO REPEAL GEORGIA’S TURTLE COLLECTION LAW BASED ON THE DEPLETION OF GEORGIA’S WILD TURTLE POPULATIONS AND AN IMMINENT PUBLIC HEALTH RISK THROUGH THE CONSUMPTION OF CONTAMINATED TURTLES DERIVING FROM GEORGIA MARCH 27, 2008 The Center for Biological Diversity, Satilla Riverkeeper, Altamaha Riverkeeper, and the Center for Food Safety, nonprofit organizations, come forth by and through their attorney Christopher Hunter Jones to the Governor of the State of Georgia and the Honorable Director of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and submit this administratively complete petition (as defined by Georgia Code. § 50-13-9 (2007)) requesting the Commission to immediately repeal harvest of all freshwater turtles (chelonians) in Georgia. Petitioners request that all chelonians be removed from Georgia Code § 27-1-8(a)(7)(2007) and hereinafter that Georgia afford all wild freshwater turtles in Georgia protection from commercial harvest, sales and export. Georgia law currently allows an unlimited number of freshwater turtles to be harvested from the wild and sold as food. Under this regime, every non-protected freshwater turtle that exists in Georgia can be legally collected and sold. Unregulated harvest and commercial collection are rapidly depleting Georgia’s wild turtle populations. Consumption of turtles known to be contaminated with toxins and pollutants poses a significant public health risk. The Center for Biological Diversity is a nonprofit, science-based environmental advocacy organization that works to protect endangered species and wild places throughout the world through science, policy, education, citizen activism and environmental law.
    [Show full text]