It was just confirmed that MToxins is staying open through the end of the year, so is anyone wants to see their incredible snake collection you have until then to do it.
American Herping: A Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians in US Zoos
- Thread starter Coelacanth18
- Start date
Note that there is at least one reed frog holder on the east coast. Rosamond Gifford Zoo now has Starry Night Reed Frogs, in a mixed-species exhibit with their Neon Day Geckos.
Order Testudines: Turtles
Having finished all of Squamata, we’ll slow the pace with our penultimate reptile group – the turtles. These shelled creatures can be quite entertaining to watch despite their speed handicap, as their short legs and bulky carapaces make for awkward and comical movements. That being said, most species are aquatic and move at a respectable pace underwater. Many turtles – especially large tortoises – rank amongst the longest-lived animals; the oldest land animal is a giant tortoise named Jonathan who is still going strong at ~190 years of age. Some tortoises are older than the zoos they currently live in!
There are ~360 species of turtle worldwide, a much smaller number than the 4,000 snakes, 7,000 lizards and 8,000 amphibians. That being said, the survey found ~170 species in US captive collections, or nearly half of all turtle species. Total holdings are fairly equal to lizards and amphibians, and the average turtle species is a bit more widely held than previous groups – although there is still an imbalance between a handful of abundant species and many rarer ones.
Turtles are subdivided into two main camps, based on how they retract their heads. We’ll start with the smaller of the two groups.
Surborder Pleurodira – Side-necked Turtles
Named as they pull their head around the side of their body to hide it, since they can’t retract it under the shell between their front legs. Three families of these turtles are found in South America, Africa, and Australasia, and roughly 40 species were found in the survey. The National Aquarium in Baltimore is a hotspot for side-necked turtles, holding at least 17 species within the past couple years; the San Diego Zoo has ~10 species as well.
Family Pelomedusidae – African Side-necked Turtles
Status in US Zoos: Prevalent
A group of dome-carapaced turtles found throughout the rivers and lakes of sub-Saharan Africa. 8 species were found in the survey; 7 of those 8 are African mud turtles of the genus Pelusios, most of which were only found in one or two places each; the most common is the West African Mud Turtle (P. castaneus) found in a handful of places.
West African Mud Turtles / Taken at the Chattanooga Zoo by @ThylacineAlive
The other 6 Pelusios species (all Rare):
Okavango Mud Turtle (Pelusios bechuanicus)
Yellow-bellied Mud Turtle (Pelusios castanoides)
African Dwarf Mud Turtle (Pelusios nanus)
West African Black Mud Turtle (Pelusios niger)
Serrated Hinged Terrapin (Pelusios sinuatus)
East African Black Mud Turtle (Pelusios subniger)
African Helmeted Turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa) – Uncommon
Also found in a handful of zoos and aquariums, this turtle is found across a large swath of the African continent. Like its Pelusios cousins it is carnivorous, sometimes aggressively so – it has been known to drown birds coming for a drink to consume them, as well as snack on parasites from the backs of buffalo and rhinos. Recent genetic analyses suggest that P. subrufa may actually be several different species, but for now zoo specimens appear to be identified only as the original.
Taken at the Omaha Zoo by @ThylacineAlive
Having finished all of Squamata, we’ll slow the pace with our penultimate reptile group – the turtles. These shelled creatures can be quite entertaining to watch despite their speed handicap, as their short legs and bulky carapaces make for awkward and comical movements. That being said, most species are aquatic and move at a respectable pace underwater. Many turtles – especially large tortoises – rank amongst the longest-lived animals; the oldest land animal is a giant tortoise named Jonathan who is still going strong at ~190 years of age. Some tortoises are older than the zoos they currently live in!
There are ~360 species of turtle worldwide, a much smaller number than the 4,000 snakes, 7,000 lizards and 8,000 amphibians. That being said, the survey found ~170 species in US captive collections, or nearly half of all turtle species. Total holdings are fairly equal to lizards and amphibians, and the average turtle species is a bit more widely held than previous groups – although there is still an imbalance between a handful of abundant species and many rarer ones.
Turtles are subdivided into two main camps, based on how they retract their heads. We’ll start with the smaller of the two groups.
Surborder Pleurodira – Side-necked Turtles
Named as they pull their head around the side of their body to hide it, since they can’t retract it under the shell between their front legs. Three families of these turtles are found in South America, Africa, and Australasia, and roughly 40 species were found in the survey. The National Aquarium in Baltimore is a hotspot for side-necked turtles, holding at least 17 species within the past couple years; the San Diego Zoo has ~10 species as well.
Family Pelomedusidae – African Side-necked Turtles
Status in US Zoos: Prevalent
A group of dome-carapaced turtles found throughout the rivers and lakes of sub-Saharan Africa. 8 species were found in the survey; 7 of those 8 are African mud turtles of the genus Pelusios, most of which were only found in one or two places each; the most common is the West African Mud Turtle (P. castaneus) found in a handful of places.
West African Mud Turtles / Taken at the Chattanooga Zoo by @ThylacineAlive
The other 6 Pelusios species (all Rare):
Okavango Mud Turtle (Pelusios bechuanicus)
Yellow-bellied Mud Turtle (Pelusios castanoides)
African Dwarf Mud Turtle (Pelusios nanus)
West African Black Mud Turtle (Pelusios niger)
Serrated Hinged Terrapin (Pelusios sinuatus)
East African Black Mud Turtle (Pelusios subniger)
African Helmeted Turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa) – Uncommon
Also found in a handful of zoos and aquariums, this turtle is found across a large swath of the African continent. Like its Pelusios cousins it is carnivorous, sometimes aggressively so – it has been known to drown birds coming for a drink to consume them, as well as snack on parasites from the backs of buffalo and rhinos. Recent genetic analyses suggest that P. subrufa may actually be several different species, but for now zoo specimens appear to be identified only as the original.
Taken at the Omaha Zoo by @ThylacineAlive
Antimony96
Well-Known Member
I assume the next update will include the really fun pleurodirans? 
I assume the next update will include the really fun pleurodirans?
Aren't all pleurodirans fun?
I did start with some less noteworthy species, since it was a shorter post that paired nicely with the longer turtle introduction. I have four more posts written for side-necked turtles, so we'll get to more unusual body types and adaptations here shortly!
Am I correct in that this is the Pelomedusidae species kept by the Bronx Zoo? It was unsigned in the Congo Gorilla Forest, so while I recorded it on my lifelist as this species, I was wondering if anyone could give a definitive answer.
I never realized there were so many different African turtle species in US Zoos! So often, facilities focus their turtle holdings on native species, Asian species, and/or Neotropical species, and I think this individual at Bronx might be the only African turtle (excluding tortoises) I've ever seen. Even though none of the Pelomedusidae species are that common in zoos, I'm glad to hear they are around as a group with decent diversity.
P. subniger and Yellow-bellied Mud Turtle (P. castanoides) have both been noted in recent years as being on display in Congo Gorilla Forest. I haven't been to Bronx and many of the species look similar to me, so that's a question for @red river hog (who wrote up the 2021 and 2022 species lists for Bronx that I used) or someone else who knows that zoo well.
Indeed; besides the group above there were only two other freshwater African turtles in the survey, neither of which are particularly widespread either. North American and Asian turtles are both big conservation focuses for zoos here, and both groups include more colorful or visually interesting species; that might be why African turtles are relatively neglected.
Finally! It's turtling time!
Funnily enough, my local PetsMart had an African Mud Turtle for sale on display once, but they never specified the species.
And by "back", they mean the back back.
Funnily enough, my local PetsMart had an African Mud Turtle for sale on display once, but they never specified the species.
And by "back", they mean the back back.
I was told by @ThylacineAlive a while back that there's one P. subniger and one P. castanoides in with the Nile Monitor if I recall correctly.
Family Chelidae
Highly aquatic species with a range of body shapes and diets, from fruit to mollusks to fast-moving fish. This family is found in both South America and Australasia, a reminder of their former union in the supercontinent Gondwana; these turtles first evolved alongside South Hemisphere dinosaurs. Today we’ll cover some of the Australasian species.
Chelodina – Australasian Snake-necked Turtles
Several species of long-necked turtles found mostly in Australia and New Guinea; however, the most common species in US collections is the only one that isn’t.
Roti Island Snake-necked Turtle (C. mccordi) – Prevalent
Found on two Indonesian islands, overcollection for the international pet trade has likely wiped out nearly all of its wild population. There is a captive breeding program for them in US zoos, and several major zoos display and breed them; this species makes up about half of Chelodina holdings in the country.
Taken at the London Zoo (UK) by @Fresco3
All other Chelodina turtles are listed below. The most common is the Common or Eastern Long-necked Turtle (C. longicollis), which is by far the most commonly seen wild species in Australia.
Uncommon
Eastern Long-necked Turtle (C. longicollis)
Northern Snake-necked Turtle (C. rugosa) – at least 1 holder signing them as Siebenrock’s Snake-necked Turtle, which refers to the New Guinea population
Parker’s Snake-necked Turtle (C. parkeri)
Rare
Broad-shelled Snake-necked Turtle (C. expansa)
New Guinea Snake-necked Turtle (C. novaeguineae)
Reimann’s Snake-necked Turtle (C. reimanni)
Kimberley Snake-necked Turtle (C. burrungandjii)
Eastern Long-necked Turtles (C. longicollis)
Taken at the Taronga Zoo (Australia) by @WhistlingKite24
Parker's Snake-necked Turtle (C. parkeri)
Taken at Zoo Atlanta by @Ding Lingwei
Elseya – Australasian Snapping Turtles
Status in US Zoos: Rare
Large, primarily fruit-eating turtles from New Guinea and northern Australia. The survey found 4 species, none of which were found in more than a couple facilities.
Branderhorst’s Snapping Turtle (E. branderhorsti)
Northern Australian Snapping Turtle (E. dentata)
Irwin’s Turtle (E. irwini)
New Guinea Snapping Turtle (E. novaeguineae)
Branderhorst’s Snapping Turtle (E. branderhorsti)
Taken at the Antwerp Zoo (Belgium) by @KevinB
Highly aquatic species with a range of body shapes and diets, from fruit to mollusks to fast-moving fish. This family is found in both South America and Australasia, a reminder of their former union in the supercontinent Gondwana; these turtles first evolved alongside South Hemisphere dinosaurs. Today we’ll cover some of the Australasian species.
Chelodina – Australasian Snake-necked Turtles
Several species of long-necked turtles found mostly in Australia and New Guinea; however, the most common species in US collections is the only one that isn’t.
Roti Island Snake-necked Turtle (C. mccordi) – Prevalent
Found on two Indonesian islands, overcollection for the international pet trade has likely wiped out nearly all of its wild population. There is a captive breeding program for them in US zoos, and several major zoos display and breed them; this species makes up about half of Chelodina holdings in the country.
Taken at the London Zoo (UK) by @Fresco3
All other Chelodina turtles are listed below. The most common is the Common or Eastern Long-necked Turtle (C. longicollis), which is by far the most commonly seen wild species in Australia.
Uncommon
Eastern Long-necked Turtle (C. longicollis)
Northern Snake-necked Turtle (C. rugosa) – at least 1 holder signing them as Siebenrock’s Snake-necked Turtle, which refers to the New Guinea population
Parker’s Snake-necked Turtle (C. parkeri)
Rare
Broad-shelled Snake-necked Turtle (C. expansa)
New Guinea Snake-necked Turtle (C. novaeguineae)
Reimann’s Snake-necked Turtle (C. reimanni)
Kimberley Snake-necked Turtle (C. burrungandjii)
Eastern Long-necked Turtles (C. longicollis)
Taken at the Taronga Zoo (Australia) by @WhistlingKite24
Parker's Snake-necked Turtle (C. parkeri)
Taken at Zoo Atlanta by @Ding Lingwei
Elseya – Australasian Snapping Turtles
Status in US Zoos: Rare
Large, primarily fruit-eating turtles from New Guinea and northern Australia. The survey found 4 species, none of which were found in more than a couple facilities.
Branderhorst’s Snapping Turtle (E. branderhorsti)
Northern Australian Snapping Turtle (E. dentata)
Irwin’s Turtle (E. irwini)
New Guinea Snapping Turtle (E. novaeguineae)
Branderhorst’s Snapping Turtle (E. branderhorsti)
Taken at the Antwerp Zoo (Belgium) by @KevinB
Family Chelidae
Australian Pond and River Turtles
Emydura – Australian Short-necked Turtles
These are Australia’s more visually stereotypical freshwater turtles. They can be further recognized by a white stripe on their face and neck. Four species were found in the survey:
Red-bellied Short-necked Turtle (E. subglobosa) – Prevalent
Also called Pink-bellied or the Jardine River Turtle, this colorful tropical turtle from Queensland and New Guinea is the most common freshwater Australian turtle in US collections.
Taken at the Berlin Zoo Aquarium by @Javan Rhino
Macquarie Turtle (E. macquarii) – Uncommon
This is the most frequently seen wild turtle in Australia, present in the waterways of major cities like Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. There are multiple subspecies, of which at least two are held in the US: the Krefft’s River Turtle (E. m. krefftii) and the Murray River Turtle (E. m. macquarii).
Krefft's River Turtle / Taken in the wild (Australia) by @WhistlingKite24
Other Emydura species in the survey (both Rare):
Northern Red-faced Turtle (E. australis)
Northern Yellow-faced Turtle (E. tanybaraga)
Mary River Turtle (Elusor macrurus) – Rare
This endangered Australian turtle was only scientifically described in 1994, and is the sole surviving member of an ancient lineage. It is sometimes called a “Punk Turtle” due to algae growing on its head that makes it look like a headbanger. They can stay submerged for up to 3 days thanks to their cloaca-breathing capability (which is not how I would prefer to breathe, but to each their own). These turtles don’t breed for the first 25 years of their life, and as such habitat destruction and overcollection has imperiled them; fortunately there are conservation efforts in place to protect them and their small habitat in southeastern Queensland.
Only a small handful of major zoos and aquariums hold this species in the United States; one is the National Aquarium in Baltimore, which has their turtles on loan from Australia’s environmental department and has successfully bred the species three times.
Taken at the Australia Zoo by @WhistlingKite24
Other Australian side-necked turtles in the survey:
Saw-shelled Turtle (Myuchelys latisternum) – Rare
------------------
And that concludes the week and Australian turtles! Next week will cover the last continent's side-necked turtles - South America.
Australian Pond and River Turtles
Emydura – Australian Short-necked Turtles
These are Australia’s more visually stereotypical freshwater turtles. They can be further recognized by a white stripe on their face and neck. Four species were found in the survey:
Red-bellied Short-necked Turtle (E. subglobosa) – Prevalent
Also called Pink-bellied or the Jardine River Turtle, this colorful tropical turtle from Queensland and New Guinea is the most common freshwater Australian turtle in US collections.
Taken at the Berlin Zoo Aquarium by @Javan Rhino
Macquarie Turtle (E. macquarii) – Uncommon
This is the most frequently seen wild turtle in Australia, present in the waterways of major cities like Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. There are multiple subspecies, of which at least two are held in the US: the Krefft’s River Turtle (E. m. krefftii) and the Murray River Turtle (E. m. macquarii).
Krefft's River Turtle / Taken in the wild (Australia) by @WhistlingKite24
Other Emydura species in the survey (both Rare):
Northern Red-faced Turtle (E. australis)
Northern Yellow-faced Turtle (E. tanybaraga)
Mary River Turtle (Elusor macrurus) – Rare
This endangered Australian turtle was only scientifically described in 1994, and is the sole surviving member of an ancient lineage. It is sometimes called a “Punk Turtle” due to algae growing on its head that makes it look like a headbanger. They can stay submerged for up to 3 days thanks to their cloaca-breathing capability (which is not how I would prefer to breathe, but to each their own). These turtles don’t breed for the first 25 years of their life, and as such habitat destruction and overcollection has imperiled them; fortunately there are conservation efforts in place to protect them and their small habitat in southeastern Queensland.
Only a small handful of major zoos and aquariums hold this species in the United States; one is the National Aquarium in Baltimore, which has their turtles on loan from Australia’s environmental department and has successfully bred the species three times.
Taken at the Australia Zoo by @WhistlingKite24
Other Australian side-necked turtles in the survey:
Saw-shelled Turtle (Myuchelys latisternum) – Rare
------------------
And that concludes the week and Australian turtles! Next week will cover the last continent's side-necked turtles - South America.
Well, pretty sure there's one more species of Australian turtle that's going to show up here.
What's the big snake draped over the tortoise then?
Both are Eastern Ratsnakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis).
Well, pretty sure there's one more species of Australian turtle that's going to show up here.
Yes, I forgot about that one. To be fair, it has a tendency to Fly under the radar
Quick note, the Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo in Louisiana holds a barking gecko (Underwoodisaurus milii).
Zoo Buddy: Barking Gecko!
Zoo Buddy: Barking Gecko!
I am a bit confused by this. What two species are closely related, and possibly not different species? False tomato frogs and Sambava tomato frogs? I thought they were the same thing, so I'm not understanding why calling them those two names would be a problem.
They're saying "false tomato frog" is a bad name because it's not "false", they are closely related to the "true" tomato frog and might not even be a different species.
Reworded as below might make it easier for you to understand:
Tomato Frogs are a common highlight in Madagascar-themed exhibits, and are also prevalent in the pet trade. The Sambava Tomato Frog (Dyscophus guineti) is slightly less common than the Madagascar Tomato Frog Dyscophus antongilii. The Sambava Tomato Frog is often signed as False Tomato Frog, which isn’t a very good name considering that Dyscophus guineti is closely related to Dyscophus antongilii … in fact, there is evidence they may not even be different species!
South American Side-necked Turtles
We’ll finish up Chelidae with the South American members of the family – starting with one that you’re probably all familiar with.
Matamata Turtle (Chelus fimbriata) – Abundant
The most common side-necked turtle in American zoos, this turtle is recognizable as the one that looks like bark and leaves. Perfectly camouflaged in stagnant swamps of the South American jungles, it feeds on small fish and invertebrates by using its mouth as a vacuum to suck prey into its gullet. The Orinoco population was recently split into a new species, C. orinocensis; there are physical differences between the two (particularly in the shell) but I don't know how many of each type are present in US collections.
Taken at the Smithsonian National Zoo by @Andrew_NZP
Phrynops – Toad-headed Turtles
Status in US Zoos: Prevalent
Found throughout South America, it’s up to you to decide if you think its head looks like a toad! Most holdings in the US are Hilaire’s Toad-headed Turtle (P. hilarii) which is commonly seen in Argentina. The other two species found (both Rare) are:
Geoffroy’s Toad-headed Turtle (P. geoffroanus)
Cotinga River Toad-headed Turtle (P. tuberosus)
Hilaire's Toadhead Turtle (P. hilarii) / Taken at Zoo Miami by @Austin the Sengi
Twist-necked Turtle (Platemys platycephala) – Uncommon to Rare
This Amazonian turtle uses its camouflage – flat shell, flat head, brown leaf color – to forage on the jungle floor and escape predation. While its Latin name refers to its flatness, its common name refers to the ability to twist its neck into the shell.
Taken at the Lodz Zoo (Poland) by @Tomek
Argentine Snake-necked Turtle (Hydromedusa tectifera) – Rare
Unlike the Australian snake-necked turtles – which I found in many zoos – this similar turtle from southern South America was only found at the San Diego Zoo and Detroit Zoo (with the most recent reference being 2019 for the latter). It also appears to be much more rarely seen in its namesake country than Hilaire’s Toadhead Turtle.
Other South American side-necked turtles (both Rare):
Black Spine-neck Swamp Turtle (Acanthochelys spixii)
Toadhead Turtle (Mesoclemmys gibba)
We’ll finish up Chelidae with the South American members of the family – starting with one that you’re probably all familiar with.
Matamata Turtle (Chelus fimbriata) – Abundant
The most common side-necked turtle in American zoos, this turtle is recognizable as the one that looks like bark and leaves. Perfectly camouflaged in stagnant swamps of the South American jungles, it feeds on small fish and invertebrates by using its mouth as a vacuum to suck prey into its gullet. The Orinoco population was recently split into a new species, C. orinocensis; there are physical differences between the two (particularly in the shell) but I don't know how many of each type are present in US collections.
Taken at the Smithsonian National Zoo by @Andrew_NZP
Phrynops – Toad-headed Turtles
Status in US Zoos: Prevalent
Found throughout South America, it’s up to you to decide if you think its head looks like a toad! Most holdings in the US are Hilaire’s Toad-headed Turtle (P. hilarii) which is commonly seen in Argentina. The other two species found (both Rare) are:
Geoffroy’s Toad-headed Turtle (P. geoffroanus)
Cotinga River Toad-headed Turtle (P. tuberosus)
Hilaire's Toadhead Turtle (P. hilarii) / Taken at Zoo Miami by @Austin the Sengi
Twist-necked Turtle (Platemys platycephala) – Uncommon to Rare
This Amazonian turtle uses its camouflage – flat shell, flat head, brown leaf color – to forage on the jungle floor and escape predation. While its Latin name refers to its flatness, its common name refers to the ability to twist its neck into the shell.
Taken at the Lodz Zoo (Poland) by @Tomek
Argentine Snake-necked Turtle (Hydromedusa tectifera) – Rare
Unlike the Australian snake-necked turtles – which I found in many zoos – this similar turtle from southern South America was only found at the San Diego Zoo and Detroit Zoo (with the most recent reference being 2019 for the latter). It also appears to be much more rarely seen in its namesake country than Hilaire’s Toadhead Turtle.
Other South American side-necked turtles (both Rare):
Black Spine-neck Swamp Turtle (Acanthochelys spixii)
Toadhead Turtle (Mesoclemmys gibba)