Ancient Group of Reptiles
Louisiana is blessed with thirty species of turtles, tortoises and terrapins. The body form of this ancient group of reptiles has changed little in the 200 million years of its existence. Besides various freshwater and land turtles, the Gulf waters along the coastal parishes host five different species of sea turtles. In this series of lenses we will introduce you to many of the turtles that inhabit the southeastern part of Lousiana and also some in parts of the north.
General Description of Turtles
Turtles are an ancient group of reptiles. The most remarkable thing about most turtles is their unique exoskeleton which is composed of an upper shell, the carapace and a lower shell, the plastron. Epidermal scutes cover the shell. These are shed periodically. Underneath them are bony plates fused to the underlying ribs and vertebrae.
There are two families which inhabit Louisiana that are not arranged in this way. They are the soft-shelled turtles (Trionychidae) which have a leathery skin and little bony plate development and the marine leatherback (Dermochelys) which has a leathery skin with a mosaic of small bones (the osteoderms) underneath.
Turtles have no teeth. Their jaws are covered by keratinous tissues called the tomium, which may have toothlike projections.
All turtles lay eggs on land. The eggs may be leathery or hard shelled. Fertilization is internal.
Diets vary with some species being carnivores, some herbivores and some omnivores.
Turtles of the Southeast
Another in the fabulous series of books about reptiles and amphibians which contains full color illustrations and excellent information about turtles of the southeastern United States. A must for any turtle lover.
Turtles of the Southeast ( Wormsloe Foundation Nature Book) (A Wormsloe Foundation Nature Book)
Amazon Price: $21.33 (as of 12/23/2009)
Snapping and Musk Turtles
Snapping Turtle 1 by SafireLady
Eastern snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina serpentina
Alligator Snapping Turtle, Macrochelys temminckii
Mississippi Mud Turtle, Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis
Razor-backed Musk Turtle, Sternotherus carinatus
Stripe-necked Musk Turtle, Sternotherus minor peltifer
Common Musk Turtle, Sternotherus odoratus
Photo references - Stripe-necked Musk Turtle: U of Georgia, Common Musk Turtle: www.chelonia.org,
Turtle Poster
Wonderful poster which can be used for instruction or to decorate any turtle lover's wall.
Turtles and Tortoises Poster (#41)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/23/2009)
Map and Other Freshwater Turtles
Southern Painted Turtle, Chrysemys dorsalis
Eastern Chicken Turtle, Deirochelys reticularia reticularia
Western Chicken Turtle, Deirochelys reticularia miaria
Pascagoula Map Turtle, Graptemys gibbonsi
Ringed Map Turtle, Graptemys oculifera
Ouachita Map Turtle, Graptemys ouachitensis ouachitensis
Sabine Map Turtle, Graptemys ouachitensis sabinensis
Mississippi Map Turtle, Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii
River Cooter, Pseudemys concinna
Red-eared Slider, Trachemys scripta elegans
Female Slider laying eggs.
Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin pileata lives in the brine water along the Gulf Coast.
Photo references - Southern Painted Turtle, Pascagoula Map Turtle, Ringed Map Turtle, and Mississippi Diamond-back Terrapin
Sliders and Other Freshwater Turtles
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Red-eared Slider Turtle of Louisiana
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The Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) is the only species of Slider turtle that inhabits Louisiana. It is also the most commonly seen turtle in the Southeast. In the past, baby Red-eared Sliders were a popular pet and were sold in pet stor...
Red-eared Sliders Book
RE109 RED-EARED SLIDERS B
Amazon Price: (as of 12/23/2009)
Good information about red-eared sliders.
Turtles 2010 Wall Calendar
Turtles 2010 Wall CalendarTurtles Wall Calendar: Reptiles of the order Testudines, turtles live both on land and at sea. These slow-moving reptiles are amazing survivors. Their ancestors date back more than two hundred million years. No doubt their staying power is due in large part to their bony hard shell, which protects vital organs, and a retractable head. This fascinating calendar surveys a diverse collection of turtles from all around the world.
Box and Other Land Turtles
Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina
Eastern Box Turtle Louisiana by naturegirl7
Eastern Box Turtle 2 Subspecies
Gulf Coast Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina major
Three-toed Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina triunguis
Ornate Box Turtle, Terrapene ornata ornata
Ornate Box Turtle by tortus32
Florida Gopher Tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus
Land Turtles of Louisiana
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Gopher Tortoises in Louisiana
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Besides the subspecies of the Common Box Turtle, another land turtle, the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), inhabits our area in Southeastern Louisiana. These tortoises are uncommon and are on the federally protected list in Louisiana, Mississip...
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Box Turtles of Louisiana
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The habitat in the riparian area around the Tchefuncte River is perfect for box turtles, but even before we bought our property in St. Tammany Parish, we provided habitat for Eastern box turtles in our yard in Baton Rouge. The Eastern box turtle (Ter...
Florida Softshell Turtle Digging Nest Poster
Florida Softshell Turtle, Digging Nest Hole, USA Photographic Poster Print by Stan Osolinski, 32x24
Amazon Price: (as of 12/23/2009)
Softshell Turtles
Midland Smooth Softshell, Apalone mutica mutica
Gulf Coast Smooth Softshell, Apalone mutica calvata
Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell, Apalone spinifera aspera
Pallid Spiny Softshell, Apalone spinifera pallida
Sea Turtle's Nest Video
Sea Turtles of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast U.S.
Sea Turtles of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United StatesWritten by two of the Southeast's foremost authorities on sea turtle conservation, this is an accessible, fully illustrated guide to the species that frequent the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States. No one who encounters a sea turtle soon forgets it. The leatherback, for instance, can grow to huge proportions, commonly approaching eight feet in length and more than half a ton in weight. Powerful swimmers, they are also among the deepest divers of all air-breathing sea creatures. Despite these assets, the survival of the leatherback, like that of all sea turtle species, is under constant threat from commercial fishing operations, overdevelopment of nesting grounds, pollution, and predation by introduced species. The guide opens with comprehensive coverage of the sea turtle's evolution, juvenile and adult life cycles, nesting, diet and feeding, disease and parasites, predators, and conservation issues. Each subsequent chapter is dedicated to a particular turtle species.
Sea Turtles
Logger Head Sea Turtle by tauheedah
Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Caretta caretta
Green Sea Turtle, Chelonia mydas
Green Sea Turtle by lynnette_dominguez
Atlantic Hawksbill, Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata
Kemp's Ridley, Lepidochelys kempi
Leatherback, Dermochelys coriacea
Sea Turtles Book
Sea Turtles: A Complete Guide to Their Biology, Behavior, and Conservation
Amazon Price: $18.45 (as of 12/23/2009)
A beautiful book about the life and conservation of the sea turtle.
Turtle Flickr Photos
Two turtle doves (tw...
Siamese Big Headed T...
Turtles at Central P...
nationalaquarium-56
nationalaquarium-55
nationalaquarium-54
Baby Turtle Toddler Costume
Turtles on Amazon
Melissa & Doug Giant Plush Stuffed Sea Turtle
Children can have a swimmingly good time without g more...0 points
Look Out for Turtles! (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2) by Melvin Berger
Turtles are among the oldest living creatures in t more...0 points
Turtle Splash!: Countdown at the Pond by Cathryn Falwell
One by one, ten turtles splash! into the pond. more...0 points
Sterling Silver Sapphire Turtle Charm
Ten rich blue sapphires are set into textured ster more...0 points
Happy Together: The Very Best of the Turtles
The Turtles are one of the most fondly remembered more...0 points
Cloud b Twilight Turtle Constellation Night Light
Comforting and adorable, the Twilight Turtle night more...0 points
Turtles of the United States and Canada by Carl H. Ernst, Jeffrey E. Lovich
Ernst and Lovich's thoroughly revised edition of t more...0 points
Aquatic Turtles: Sliders, Cooters, Painted, and Map Turtles by R.D. Bartlett, Patricia Bartlett
Titles in this series present basic information on more...0 points
Turtles (Complete Pet Owner's Manual) by Hartmut Wilke
Here are detailed instructions on turtle care, saf more...0 points
Other Louisiana Animals
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Amazing Amphibians of Louisiana
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Amphibians are an interesting and very important class of animals and there are certainly plenty of them here in Louisiana. We have everything from large Bullfrogs to tiny Tree frogs, Toads that keep the garden free of harmful insects and even secret...
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Creatures of the Night
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When the sun goes down, the night creatures come out of their nests, dens and boroughs. This is their time to shine. They have adapted to living by the light of the moon and stars, so that the cycle of life (producer, consumer and predator) will cont...
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To the River and Back Again in Pictures
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Each morning, around 9:00 a.m. we (two humans and our two dogs, though sometimes neighbor dogs, Amos and Sadie, join us) make our daily trek down to the Little Tchefuncte River in southeastern Louisiana, filling bird feeders along the way. This is a...
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Snakes of Louisiana
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Snakes are probably one of the most controversial animals. You either love them or hate them. Snakes are a very important link in the food chain and without them our earth would be overrun with vermin and harmful insects. Here in Louisiana there are...
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Pond Life, One of those Days
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There's a new module in town and it's perfect for people like us who love to take pictures. The Caption Contest Module allows users to enter all sorts of funny and clever captions for variety of pictures. So if you like to write funny one-liners or...
Our Nature Blogs
- Dec 5, 2009 @ 6:51 pmHooray! A winter hummingbird has come to stay! from Tchefuncte Hummingbird Hill Habitat Journal
- On November 29th we were elated when we saw a hummingbird drinking from a feeder near our front porch. I knew it had been a couple of weeks since I changed the sugar water in the feeder, so I quickly...
- Nov 14, 2009 @ 2:48 pmBeautiful St. Tammany Parish from Tchefuncte Hummingbird Hill Habitat Journal
- Our nine acre National Wildlife certified backyard wildlife habitat is located on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. When we bought our property before Hurricane...
- Nov 13, 2009 @ 2:19 pmHoliday Giving - Donate to Animal Charities from Best of Naturally Native Squids
- Where does the time go? I can't believe that 2009 is almost coming to an end and that the holidays are right around the corner. When one thinks about the holidays, one can't help but think about gif...
- Oct 25, 2009 @ 9:40 amMushrooms Decorate the Forests in Fall from Tchefuncte Hummingbird Hill Habitat Journal
- Mushroom Amanita caesarea by tiger45Mushrooms abound in the forests during Autumn and it seems that more colorful ones appear in October and through early winter. The damp, cool weather of south Loui...
- May 13, 2009 @ 4:21 pmProthonotary Warblers are Back from Tchefuncte Hummingbird Hill Habitat Journal
- Prothonotary Box Postcard by naturegirl7This is the first time that we have been able to monitor each of the boxes on our nest box trail since late April. Many Carolina Chickadees and some Carolina W...
- Apr 22, 2009 @ 12:18 pmNest Box Trail Monitoring 4/21-22 from Tchefuncte Hummingbird Hill Habitat Journal
- Carolina Chickadee Postage by naturegirl7We try to check the nest boxes on our Cavity Nesting Trail about once a week, but because of "life", we are lucky to check them every 2 weeks. For more inform...
- Apr 10, 2009 @ 11:30 amNest Box Trail Monitoring Results from Tchefuncte Hummingbird Hill Habitat Journal
- Bluebird Pair Postcard by naturegirl7We checked all of the nest boxes on our trail this morning. Despite the abnormal weather fluctuations, most of the nests were successful and there are a few new ne...
- Apr 9, 2009 @ 8:02 pmSpring in Little Tchefuncte Habitat from Tchefuncte Hummingbird Hill Habitat Journal
- Black and White WarblerWe've been so busy with many conservation efforts, that I haven't had time to write anything for months. So.... this will probably be a long post.Our nest box trail is doing we...
- Mar 29, 2009 @ 6:37 pmSpring Forth to Sustainability from Best of Naturally Native Squids
- Spring has sprung and in our neck of the woods thoughts go to budding plants and new life. All the animals are preparing to procreate. There are many things that you can do as a homeowner to offer s...
Don't crawl away without leaving a comment.
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Reply
- natureplanet natureplanet Dec 19, 2009 @ 7:05 pm
- nice site. as a child living in Nairobi we had a giant tortoise in our garden and us kids could ride around on it. i will always remember that!
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Reply
- bdkz bdkz Nov 13, 2009 @ 12:09 pm
- Beautiful lens!
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Reply
- Jewelsofawe Jewelsofawe Nov 8, 2009 @ 7:26 pm
- I love turtles especially sea turtles!
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Reply
- Evelyn_Saenz Evelyn_Saenz Oct 31, 2009 @ 6:14 am
- We all need to stick our heads out of our shells and look around at all the wonderful creatures that live just outside our door. Thank you so much for sharing the turtles, tortoises and terrapins of Louisiana.
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Reply
- AmandaSomers AmandaSomers Oct 28, 2009 @ 7:18 am
- Awesome information about turtles. Excellent lens...
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About Rio1
Lensmaster rio1 has been a member since June 8 2008, has rated 169 lenses, favorited 152, and has created 15 lenses from scratch. Al B donates their royalties to Humane Society of the United States. This member's top-ranked page is "Turtles, Tortoises and Terrapins of Louisiana". See all my lenses
Check out these great lenses...
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- Turtles, Tortoises and Terrapins of Louisiana
Louisiana is blessed with thirty species of turtles, tortoises and terrapins. The body form of this ancient group of reptiles has changed little in the 200 million years of its existence. Besides various freshwater and land turtles, the Gulf waters a... view lens -
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- To the River and Back Again in Pictures
Each morning, around 9:00 a.m. we (two humans and our two dogs, though sometimes neighbor dogs, Amos and Sadie, join us) make our daily trek down to the Little Tchefuncte River in southeastern Louisiana, filling bird feeders along the way. This is a... view lens -
- Abita Brewery Tour
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