The Suwannee snapping turtle (Macrochelys suwanniensis) is a species of very large freshwater turtle in the family Chelydridae. This species is endemic to the southeastern United States, where it only inhabits the Suwannee River basin.[3][4]
It is one of only two known species in the genus Macrochelys, the other being the far more widespread alligator snapping turtle (M. temminckii); a third, the Apalachicola snapping turtle (M. apalachicolae), which was described alongside M. suwanniensis, is not thought to be distinct from M. temminckii and has been synonymized with it. It was previously believed to represent a population of Macrochelys temminckii, but a 2014 study found significant genetic divergence between the Suwannee and alligator snapping turtles, dating back to the late Miocene to early Pliocene, about 5.5 to 13.4 million years ago, and thus the Suwannee population was described as a distinct species, M. suwanniensis.[5]
This species is only found in the Suwannee River basin, in southern Georgia and northern portions of peninsular Florida; it is allopatric with respect to M. temminckii, which inhabits river basins further to the west. It inhabits only riparian habitats such as rivers and their tributaries, but sometimes utilizes backwater swamps and oxbow lakes. Individuals found in inland lakes have likely been introduced.[6] In 2021, an individual was discovered in the Okefenokee Swamp, indicating that a previously-undocumented population of snapping turtles may inhabit the swamp.[7]
Due to its slow generation time, it is highly vulnerable to direct stressors such as turtle hunting (illegal in Florida) and indirect stressors such as habitat destruction, which pollutes the water it inhabits. In 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the species under the Endangered Species Act.[8][9][10]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) The Suwannee snapping turtle (Macrochelys suwanniensis) is a species of very large freshwater turtle in the family Chelydridae. This species is endemic to the southeastern United States, where it only inhabits the Suwannee River basin.
La tortuga mordedora de Suwannee (Macrochelys suwanniensis) es una especie de tortuga que vive en el río Suwannee, Estados Unidos.[1][2] Anteriormente se creía que era parte de la especie Macrochelys temminckii.[3]
Datos: Q16992876
Especies: Macrochelys suwanniensis
La tortuga mordedora de Suwannee (Macrochelys suwanniensis) es una especie de tortuga que vive en el río Suwannee, Estados Unidos. Anteriormente se creía que era parte de la especie Macrochelys temminckii.
Macrochelys suwanniensis est une espèce de tortues cryptodires de la famille des Chelydridae.
Ce proche parent de la Tortue alligator (Macrochelys temminckii) est endémique des États-Unis. Il se rencontre dans le Suwannee (comprenant la Géorgie et la Floride)[1].
L'épithète spécifique, composée de suwanni et du suffixe latin -ensis (« qui vit dans, qui habite »), est nommée en référence à la localité type : le Suwannee[1].
Cette espèce a été décrite pour la première fois en 2014[1].
Macrochelys suwanniensis est une espèce de tortues cryptodires de la famille des Chelydridae.
