TotallyTurtles

A very unique one for you today, this is the Black-knobbed Map Turtle (Graptemys nigrinoda) endemic to the South Eastern United States. Their distinctive knobs are more like spikes when they are young to help deter predators but they smooth out as they get older. #turtles #nature

Can I offer you a Big Bend Slider in these trying times? These awesome guys are often photographed on rocks and trees in the water and look absolutely stunning, living in the US and Mexico they are unfortunately captured and eaten by people which has partly led to them being Vulnerable. #turtles

This is Barbour's Map Turtle (Graptemys barbouri), a threatened species native to the South Eastern United States. They are named after Thomas Barbour, an American Herpetologist. Unfortunately the reason for their threatened status is due to people eating them and destroying their habitat. #turtles

This is the Asian Giant Tortoise (Manouria emys phayrei) native to mainland Asia if that wasn't clear by the name. They are Critically Endangered because people collect them for food and destroy their habitat. This has led to an 80% reduction in the wild population. #turtles #nature #conservation

It's my birthday today so, I've decided to share one of my favourite turtle species again. This is the Matamata turtle, their appearance allows them to blend in with leaves at the bottom of a body of water and they eat their prey whole sucking them in by creating a vacuum. #turtles #nature #matamata

It's Turtely Tuesday!! So, I want to present the Giant Softshell Turtle (Pelochelys cantorii), they aren't your typical turtle but it is incredibly interesting. They split off from their closest turtle relatives 59 million years ago. They are critically endangered due to illegal collection #turtles

Got another turtle from Alabama for you today! This is the Alabama Red-bellied Turtle (Pseudemys alabamensis) they are an endangered species and are federally protected. Their numbers are decreasing due to people collecting them for food and the pet trade there is now less than 10,000. #turtles

This is the Alabama Map Turtle (Graptemys pulchra) found in the Southern United States. The IUCN classes them as Near Threatened and they are a protected species in Alabama mostly due to habitat destruction and fragmentation. #turtles #conservation #nature

This is the adorable Black-breasted Leaf Turtle (Geoemyda spengleri) they have very distinctive large eyes with a sharp shell and are found in China, Laos and Vietnam. They are endangered due to the pet trade and 'medicinal use' leading to a 70% decline in population. #cute #turtles #turtelytuesday

Eastern Box Turtles can completely close their shells and hide away (Much like me these past 2 weeks) they can then slowly open it and check if there is still a threat. This species is considered Vulnerable by the IUCN due to collection for personal use and the illegal pet trade. #cute #turtles

The Florida Mud Turtle (Kinosternon steindachneri), as the name would suggest, is endemic to Florida and its binomial name is in tribute to Austrian Herpetologist Franz Steindachner. ICUN lists them as 'Data Deficient' but notes their population is decreasing. #turtles #cute #nature #conservation

These guys are Spotted Pond Turtles (Geoclemys hamiltonii), an endangered species endemic to Southern Asia. They are currently under threat from people collecting them for food and the pet trade which has led to an over 50% decrease in their population. #turtles #conservation #cute #nature

This is the Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys pallida), they are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN but that assessment was carried out in 1996 so it is believed they are now Endangered. This is due to intensive water use by humans, invasive species and past consumption of the turtles. #turtles #cute

This is the Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys pallida), they are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN but that assessment was carried out in 1996 so it is believed they are now Endangered. This is due to intensive water use by humans, invasive species and past consumption of the turtles. #turtles #cute

This cute fella is Dunn's Mud Turtle (Kinosternon dunni) which is endemic to Colombia. I couldn't find much information on these guys other than they are listed as Vulnerable due to logging, mining and pollution and they are named after Emmett Reid Dunn, an American herpetologist. #cute #turtles

This is Forsten's Tortoise (Indotestudo forstenii) endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, they are listed as Critically Endangered due to collection for the pet trade. They are named after Eltio Alegondas Forsten who was a Dutch naturalist. #turtles #cute #nature

Whoops looks like I haven't posted in a while... Anyway, this is the Radiated Tortoise and no it's not called that because it's radioactive, it is because of their distinct shell patterns These guys are unfortunately critically endangered as they are collected for food. #turtles #cute #nature

This is Dahl's Toad-headed Turtle, a critically endangered species found in Northern Colombia and discovered by George Dahl and named after him. Unfortunately this species is inbred and so work is being done to increase genetic diversity and habitat reconstruction is also being done. #turtles #cute

This little fella is the Central Chiapas Mud Turtle (Kinosternon abaxillare) there isn't much in the way of information about these guys and they are considered one of Mexico's least studied turtles. We do know they are Vulnerable due to collection for the pet trade. #turtles #cute #nature #babyturt

It's been a while since I've made a post about a tortoise so here's the Chaco Tortoise (Chelonoidis chilensis) which is mostly found in Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia. Interestingly there is debate over whether this species is infact 2 distinct species. #turtles #nature #cute #tortoise

Pan's Box Turtle (Cuora pani) is a critically endangered Chinese turtle named after Herpetologist Pan Lei. The population is considered at near or functional extinction in the wild due to collection for 'medicinal' trades. Captive breeding is being done to conserve them. #turtles #cute #nature

This is the Stripe-necked Musk Turtle, they are found in the South Eastern part of the United States namely Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi etc. We don't know much about these turtles in terms of reproduction, conservation status or habitat. #turtles #nature #cute #muskturtles

The Magdalena River Turtle (Podocnemis lewyana) is endemic to Colombia and Critically Endangered due to collection of adults and eggs for eating and habitat destruction. More and more is being done in the way of conservation for this species through protecting nesting sites. #turtles #nature #cute