Photo Source: Brian Mealey

KEEPING IT FRESH
Florida’s diverse freshwater systems are prime locations for our low-laying friends.  One area in particular, the Santa Fe River is known for its wide array of aquatic turtles.  During the dry season, turtles from nearby lakes and ponds convene at this location.  Here, species like the Suwannee cooter, Florida snapping turtle, and the Yellow-bellied slider keep a watchful eye as they bask in the sun.  Researchers from the Santa Fe River Project estimate that 67% of North-central Florida’s freshwater turtles can be found in or around this flowing body of water; and for every one mile of river, there are approximately 500 turtles. 

SOME LIKE IT SALTY  
Sea turtles may be the most well-known saltwater species, but, the Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is a year-round resident of the Florida Bay.  In Key Largo, this gem-inspired reptile thrives in mangrove estuaries.  Its ability to tolerate high levels of salt makes it the only turtle in North America native to brackish waters. 

Despite the terrapin’s knack for all things salty, the Diamondback faces a unique set of challenges. In South Florida, scientists have discovered that females outnumber males 10 to 1. It is unclear whether greater predation upon the smaller male is to blame, or if warmer nesting sands are the true culprit. (High-temperature nests yield more females during incubation). Should this trend continue, researchers believe the future of the Diamondback terrapin could be in jeopardy. 

HIGH AND DRY
North-central Florida is home to the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), a brownish-gray reptilian whose North American ancestors date back nearly 60 million years.  Although age limits vary slightly, gopher tortoises or ‘gophers’ may live in excess of 60 years. To identify the sex, males have a concave plastron or bottom shell, whereas females possess a flat plastron. 

It’s getting hot in here!  These grass-loving animals may live underground, but prefer to roam on dry, upland habitats such as pine flatwoods, scrub, and coastal dunes.  Fires, both naturally-occurring and controlled, prevent vegetation from growing tall and thick.  By opening up the canopy, sunlight reaches low-growing plants, such as herbs and grasses (a gopher’s diet) that would otherwise die in the shade.  To continue the cycle of life, the tortoise promotes plant re-growth by dispersing seeds found in its droppings.

Resources for this article have been provided by the Gopher Tortoise Council, the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.