Contents
Abbreviations
Introduction
Indigenous Species
Introduced Species
Taxonomic Changes and Problems
Climate of Alabama
River Basins
Important Geographic Units
Keys
Alabama Distribution
Conservation and Management
Taxonomy
Turtles—Testudines
Key to the Families of Turtles of Alabama
Leatherback Sea Turtles Family Dermochelyidae
Leatherback Sea Turtles Genus Dermochelys
Atlantic Leatherback Dermochelys coriacea
Sea Turtles Family Cheloniidae
Key to the Genera of Cheloniidae of Alabama
Loggerhead Sea Turtles Genus Caretta
Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta caretta
Ridley Sea Turtles Genus Lepidochelys
Kemp’s Ridley Lepidochelys kempii
Hawksbill Sea Turtles Genus Eretmochelys
Atlantic Hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata
Green Sea Turtles Genus Chelonia
Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas
Soft-shelled Turtles Family Trionychidae
North American Softshells Genus Apalone
Key to the Species of Apalone of Alabama
Gulf Coast Smooth Softshell Apalone calvata
Midland Smooth Softshell Apalone mutica
Florida Softshell Apalone ferox
Spiny Softshells Apalone spinifera
Key to the Subspecies of Apalone spinifera of Alabama
Eastern Spiny Softshell Apalone spinifera spinifera
Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell Apalone spinifera aspera
Tortoises Family Testudinidae
North American Tortoises Genus Gopherus
Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus
Snapping Turtles Family Chelydridae
Key to the Genera of Chelydridae of Alabama
Snapping Turtles Genus Chelydra
Eastern Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina
Alligator Snapping Turtles Genus Macrochelys
Alligator Snapping Turtle Macrochelys temminckii
Mud and Musk Turtles Family Kinosternidae
Key to the Genera of Kinosternidae of Alabama
American Mud Turtles Genus Kinosternon
Key to the Species of Kinosternon of Alabama
Striped Mud Turtle Kinosternon baurii
Eastern Mud Turtles Kinosternon subrubrum
Key to the Subspecies of Kinosternon subrubrum of Alabama
Mississippi Mud Turtle Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis
Eastern Mud Turtle Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum
Musk Turtles Genus Sternotherus
Key to the Species of Sternotherus of Alabama
Eastern Musk Turtle (Stinkpot) Sternotherus odoratus
Razor-backed Musk Turtle Sternotherus carinatus
Flattened Musk Turtle Sternotherus depressus
Loggerhead Musk Turtle Sternotherus minor
Stripe-necked Musk Turtle Sternotherus peltifer
River, Pond, and Box Turtles Family Emydidae
Key to the Genera of Emydidae of Alabama
American Box Turtles Genus Terrapene
Key to the Species of Terrapene of Alabama
Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina
Florida Box Turtle Terrapene bauri
Diamond-backed Terrapins Genus Malaclemys
Mississippi Diamond-backed Terrapin Malaclemys terrapin pileata
Chicken Turtles Genus Deirochelys
Eastern Chicken Turtle Deirochelys reticularia reticularia
Key to the Species of Chrysemys of Alabama
Southern Painted Turtle Chrysemys dorsalis
Eastern Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta picta
Map Turtles Genus Graptemys
Key to the Species of Graptemys of Alabama
Northern Map Turtle Graptemys geographica
Barbour’s Map Turtle Graptemys barbouri
Alabama Map Turtle Graptemys pulchra
Escambia Map Turtle Graptemys ernsti
Ouachita Map Turtle Graptemys ouachitensis ouachitensis
Key to the Subspecies of Graptemys nigrinoda of Alabama
Northern Black-knobbed Sawback Graptemys nigrinoda nigrinoda
Southern Black-knobbed Sawback Graptemys nigrinoda delticola
Sliders Genus Trachemys
Key to the Subspecies of Trachemys scripta of Alabama
Red-eared Slider Trachemys scripta elegans
Yellow-bellied Slider Trachemys scripta scripta
Cooters Genus Pseudemys
Key to the Species of Pseudemys of Alabama
Alabama Red-bellied Turtle Pseudemys alabamensis
River Cooter Pseudemys concinna
Florida Cooter Pseudemys floridana
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Glossary
Notes on Illustrations
References
About the Authors
Index