Macrochelys temminckii

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	REPTILIA	TESTUDINES	CHELYDRIDAE

Scientific Name:

Macrochelys temminckii

Species Authority

(Troost in Harlan, 1835)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Alligator Snapping Turtle

Synonym/s:

Macroclemys temminckii

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A1cd ver 2.3

Year Assessed:

1996

Annotations:

Needs updating

Assessor/s

Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group

History:

1994	–	Vulnerable (Groombridge 1994)
1990	–	Vulnerable (IUCN 1990)
1988	–	Vulnerable (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	The Alligator Snapping Turtle is endemic to the US occurring in rivers that drain into the Gulf of Mexico.
Countries:	Native: United States

Population [top]

Population:	The species range is greater than 10,000 km² but population densities are likely to be low throughout this area (Ewert 1997), It is naturally rare in northern extremes of its range. Klemens and Behler (1997) report that there is good anecdotal evidence that the species is undergoing a long-term, non cyclical decline throughout much of its range.

Population:

The species range is greater than 10,000 km² but population densities are likely to be low throughout this area (Ewert 1997), It is naturally rare in northern extremes of its range. Klemens and Behler (1997) report that there is good anecdotal evidence that the species is undergoing a long-term, non cyclical decline throughout much of its range.

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Some natural habitat has been drained and replaced by agriculture in recent years, however, actual habitat loss, in terms of loss of rivers and their banks, may be small (Ewert 1997). The turtle has been found in reservoirs throughout their range and dyking of rivers to create winter waterfowl refuges has increased potential habitat in Arkansas and the lower Mississippi Valley and may offset some of the degraded habitat (Ewert 1997).
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

Some natural habitat has been drained and replaced by agriculture in recent years, however, actual habitat loss, in terms of loss of rivers and their banks, may be small (Ewert 1997). The turtle has been found in reservoirs throughout their range and dyking of rivers to create winter waterfowl refuges has increased potential habitat in Arkansas and the lower Mississippi Valley and may offset some of the degraded habitat (Ewert 1997).

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The main threats include habitat alteration; exploitation by trappers for a large domestic market and a growing international market for its meat; pollution and pesticide accumulation (Holt and Tolson 1993).

Major Threat(s):

The main threats include habitat alteration; exploitation by trappers for a large domestic market and a growing international market for its meat; pollution and pesticide accumulation (Holt and Tolson 1993).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Take is prohibited in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, but allowed with the necessary permit in Alabama, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

Conservation Actions:

Take is prohibited in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, but allowed with the necessary permit in Alabama, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

Citation:	Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 1996. Macrochelys temminckii. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 November 2008.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the Copyright and Data Disclaimer.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided