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 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 •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 ' KEY: X - county record L - literature record e - expected, or observed ? - does it occur ? VHS BULLETIN No. 58 Page five TURTLES OF VIRGINIA BY COUNTIES (Lancaster through Pulaski) L-P TJ e G Td 0 cd cd cd G bQ P bO G *-i •fl cd G i—! G O G G 5 O P G bO G X G Td P 0 cd T3 0 P 0 G X> 0 0 G P a ^5 >5 > G M 0 0 O G £ s cd p cd P G G G G 6 0 0 id CO G cd X> O 5 0 0 o B G 0 i—i cd G 5 0 o >5 p 0 P o x: .g o bO p w cd o O O 0 cd O 0 G 0 0 P bO 0 O G cd o Td p 0 JC T3 P 0 0 40 p -P G 0 G p x: G G c 0 g g g ,gpo'0 G G P 5 G G G P cd hO P p 5 •r\ •r~I »rL r I O C6 0 0 O O O O G cd - cd- o G G G 3 cd0OOGcdcd0P S S S S O C G P-, Cl, CL P-, CL, a Pn s s s s • 1. LOGGERHEAD T. 9 ? ? ? ? 9 2. GREEN TURTLE 9 9 9 9 9 ? 3. COMMON SNAPPINGe X e e e X e e e X X e X e X e e X X e e e e e e e 4. E. PAINTED T. e e X e X e e e X X e X X e e e e X e e e e e e e 5. X MIDLAND P. e e e 6.SPOTTED TURTLE X e e X e X e X e X X X e e e. e e e e e ? 9 7. WOOD TURTLE X 9 8. BOG TURTLE e ? e ? e e e e e 9. E. CHICKEN T. 10. LEATHERBACK ■ 9 9 9 ? ? 9 11. HAWKSBILL T. 9 ? 9 ? ? 9 . 1 12. MAP TURTLE X X 13.OUACHITA MAP T. e 1' - 14. EASTERN MUD T. X e e e e e e e X e X X X e e e X e e e e 15. RIDLEY 9 9 .? ? 9 X ; ' e e X e e e e 16. N. DIAI-10 MDBACK e e ? 9 17. RIVER CCOTER e e 9 e e X e X e e e e e e 18. FLORIDA COOTER e e e e e e e e 19. RED-BELLIED T. e e e e e X e e e e e 20. YELLOW-BELL'D e e 21. CUMBERLAND T. ? 22 .STRIPE-NECKED X 23.STINKPOT e X e e e e e e e e e e X X e e e e e e e e e X X e 24. E. BOX TURTLE X X e e e e e e e X e e X e e X e e e e X e X X X e 25. E. SPINY SOFT- SHELL T. X KEY: X - county record L - literature record e - expected or observed ? - does it occur ? » jC o o CO cd • cd o X SJ 0 • *i—I o o r- G G 0 PQ o o o 0 J.T. X o G c cd g o w cd cd -P cd o i—1 cd G n X o a > T3 i—i p 0 P •tH cd G 0 •r-1 hO '—i B i—I G r—1 hO G G G X! o X G G r-i G cd >s O X 0 C G O O •r-4 cd a O X! •H 0 P cd X X co a >a 0 0 *H B 0 a bo a x G X J*! CO P G p -p P Pi G CO 0 U X P 0 5 G a o cd o O CO O 0 >5 3 0 Cd G CO N G co co co p G 0 cd •H O o o 3 o x 6 O a p 3 3 cd cd a; 0 V4 >5 O .KJX p . c o .c c .,CO.GQ. ca.co .CQ .CO ^ ■ • 1. LOGGERHEAD T. . ; 1 ? ? ? 2. GREEN TURTLE ? ? ? 3. COMMON SNAPPINGe e e e e e e e X e e X e e e X e X e e e e L 4. E. PAINTED T. e e e e e e e e e X 5. X MIDLAND P. e e e e e e e e e e e e 6.SPOTTED TURTLE e e e e e e e e e e ? X ! • 7. WOOD TURTLE e ? e ? ? e . j . 8. BOG TURTLE e ? ? ? e ? ? e ? ? 9. E. CHICKEN T. X 10. LEATHERBACK e e 11. HAWKSBILL T. 9 9 12. MAP TURTLE ? e e ? X 13.OUACHITA MAP T. ? e e ? e 14. EASTERN MUD T. e X e e X e e e X X 15. RIDLEY 9 ? ? 16. N.DIAMONDBACKED e e e e X X e X 17. RIVER COOTER e e e e e e e e e X 18. FLORIDA COOTER e X 19. RED-BELLIED T. e e e e e e X 20. YELLOW-BELLIED ? 9 9 21. CUMBERLAND T. ? e 22.STRIPE-NECKED M. ? e 23.STINKPOT e e X e e e e e e e e 24. E. BOX TURTLE X e X e e e X e' e X e X 25. E. SPINY SOFT- SHELL TURTLE e e X e KEY: X - county record L - literature record e - expected or observed ? - does it occur ? ' VHS BULLETIN No.-58 Page seven Some Notes on Range of Virginian Turtles: The Atlantic Ridley has been re The Stripe-necked Musk Turtle is corded in-Chesapeake Bay on five found in the rivers and tributar occasions, according to Jerry D. ies of southwestern Virginia which, Hardy (Chesapeake Science). The form a part of the Ohio-Tennessee first is a small female specimen, drainage system. It may occur as in the U.S. National Museum col far east as the western slope of lection (USNM 86814) collected by White Top mountain (Washington Co.) W.K. Hadley, 1932/ as caught "near VHS records are for Lee County. Reedville, Northumberland County,,# Va. Another specimen was taken in The Eastern Mud Turtle, unknown on* that area in 1956 (USNM 137573)by the western side of the Blue Ridge, Captain W.J.Biddlecomb. has been seen in Magnolia Swamp, Augusta County. (Spotted Turtles William H. Massmann of the Va. have been recorded in same area.) Inst, of Marine Sciences recorded- Isolated specimens may be trans a specimen of Ridley from Glouces plants or "releases". A few more ter Point, Va., caught by fisher recordings may establish a basis men in July 1951. He commented for extending the ranges of both ; that he had seen several others in species beyond that now accepted. the area. The Wood Turtle may range well More county records are needed on into Virginia from the northern the Northern Diamond-backed Terra tier of counties. Summer campers pin. Chesapeake Bay estuaries or and hikers should be on the alert the Eastern Shore counties are a for specimens in the woodlands. likely area to check for terrapin. - The Box Turtle is known from the The Ouachita (false) Map’Turtle is Shenandoah National Park at 4,000- not known from the state, but the foot elevations. Does it occur on species may turn up in Tennessee White Top or Mt. Rogers (elev. of River drainage system in the south 5,700 feet) Grayson and Smyth Co? western Va. counties;- see tables. i ‘ V • While the E. Painted Turtle and Yellow-bellied Turtle,* another of the Midland Painted Turtle are on the pet store regulars, is native the state list, the majority of to the Great Dismal Swamp. It is Midland Painted Turtles from this also reported in Richmond area. state are intergrades; ji.e. C.p. Does it naturally occur --.estab picta X C.p_. marginata. Inter lished and breeding -- north of gradation occurs along the West the James and east of Richmond ? Virginia border; more typical Mid Definite (preserved) records are land Painted Turtles may occur in required. the extreme southwestern counties. River Cooter -- does it occur in Does the Florida Cooter occur in the larger rivers all of the way a natural habitat anyplace except to the Blue Ridge ? Records ? Great Dismal Swamp ? Red-bellied Turtle: How far south Cumberland Turtle: no Va. record along Shenandoah River does it oc to date. Expected in extreme s.w.. cur ? Does it penetrate the Blue in rivers draining into Ohio-Tenn. Ridge along the James or Roanoke ? (May-June .1968) Va.Herpetological Survey ( VHS BULLETIN No. 58 Page eight (final) OCCURRENCE OF THE LEATHERBACK TURTLE ON VIRGINIA'S S.E .COAST As I was cruising on the beach on I think it had been killed by a August 20, 1965, about 7 miles S. ship because it had been decapi of Sand Bridge (formerly Princess tated and a section of the cara Anne County), I discovered a dead pace was missing. This is not a Atlantic Leatherback sea turtle. northern record for Dermochelys, but they are not very common off It was 10:00 p.m. and low tide. of Virginia. I talked to Mr, J. It's shell measured about 52 inches R, Martin of Virginia Beach and in length and I estimated it to be Norfolk, who has collected rep 400 to 450 lbs. in weight. It had tiles in Virginia most of his been dead about two or three days. life; he had never seen one. David Jones C '• *-ro I S'- io • *'■ UNUSUAL or RARE TURTLES should Report unusual or rare turtles or be saved alive, out of direct sun other Virginian reptiles and am light and provided with water. A phibians to the* nearest museum, photograph should be made and its zoo, university, college, or high \ identification* confirmed. IF THE school biology instructor. If on TURTLE is DEAD, preserve shell or Federal or Virginia State proper head, whichever is in best state ty, state park or forest, notify of preservation. If a juvenile-- the nearest park or forest ranger small enough to preserve complete and let him make the collection. -- use 40 percent formalin. Your (There are usually stiff penalties local druggist can supply the sol for collecting on reservations.) ution without prescription. Keep V . *- •• •***••', Ji , , i ;• ;•* . ' . i i ~) 1 out of reach of children; it is a Drop a letter with details on the poison. Directions for preserv find and disposition of specimen ing specimens are contained in: to: (VHS BULLETIN No. 48) Virginia Herpetological Soc, 4706 Tallahassee Avenue Color photography should not be Rockville, Md. 20853 • ** **.'* r t . • r (*> ” cy * € „ o - -1 - • • j neglected. Preservation of rare specimens in any solution brings Or, use VHS Roster (VHS-B #46) about color changes. If this is to locate nearest VHS officer an important consideration take- or biology instructor-member. a color snapshot or color slide, preferably 2" X 2". Among the likely places to take a preserved specimen, are: VHS COLLECTION DATA SLIPS WILL be carried in each regular issue Bridgewater College, Dr. Jopson; of VHS Bulletin. USE THEM: VHS Hampden-Sydney College, Biol'.Dep't; does not publish the collection- National Museum, Washington,*D.C. site details; only the county of Univ.of Va., Charlottesville,Va. capture, and name of collector. VMI; Dr. Robert Carroll; VPI, Dr. Robert D. Ross; and This is part of a statewide William & Mary, Dr. G.R.Brooks. effort to expand knowledge of the Va. reptiles and amphibians. Your co-operation is welcomed.