Chipola River

Remains of two young Yellowbelly Sliders found at the water's edge surrounded by raccoon tracks.

Many of the female Yellowbellies retain amazing color into adulthood.

Hatchling Yellowbelly.

This female had a number of injuries, including a stump rear leg. She was otherwise very healthy.

The long fore claws mark this as a male. The dark coloration is due to melanism, which is common in older male Trachemys.

Female Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell. The Spiny projections on the front of the carapace, help tell this species apart from the other two softshell species found in Florida.

Male Gulf Coast Spiny showing the converging head lines that help ID this subspecies.

The water was cold this day and many basking snakes were seen like this Brown Water Snake.

Banded Water Snake.

This gem, an Alligator Snapping Turtle, was spotted by my herping mentor Carl May.

"And you just had to pick it up, didn't you?"  -BM

The River Cooters in this area are an intergrade form and quite beautiful.

Male Loggerhead Musk and a visual explanation of where the name loggerhead comes from.

This female's skin is pink due to the highly vascularized skin.

Hatchling basking on cypress knee.

Another near hatchling.

Hatchling Barbour's Map Turtle.

This picture shows the plastron marking and the light curved bar along the chin that helps ID this species.

Adult Female Barbour's Map basking.