Texas has a large and diverse turtle population, with forms that are found nowhere else (Cagle's Map Turtle and the Texas Map Turtle) and wide-ranging species that barely touch the state, including the Painted Turtles and the Rough-footed Mud Turtle. From the Sabine River to El Paso, and from the Rio Grande to the Panhandle, thirty-one native and established exotic turtle species are definitely known in Texas, along with one crocodilian, the American Alligator.
Texas Turtles & Crocodilians is the first complete identification guide to all the state's turtles and to its single alligator. It offers detailed species accounts, range maps, and excellent color photographs to aid in field identification. The authors, two of the state's most knowledgeable herpetologists, open Texas Turtles & Crocodilians with a broad overview of turtle natural history, conservation biology, observation, and captive maintenance before providing a key to Texas turtles and accounts of the various turtle families and species. Appendices provide brief accounts of species that occurred prehistorically in Texas and non-established exotic species, as well as a table of Texas' major watersheds and the turtle diversity in each one. Informational resources on Texas turtles and alligators, a map of Texas counties, a glossary, a bibliography, and indexes of common and scientific names complete Texas Turtles & Crocodilians.
Foreword by David Haynes
Acknowledgments
Introduction
What Is a Turtle?
Evolutionary History
Two Main Turtle Groups
Relationship between Turtles and Other “Reptiles”
What is a Crocodilian?
Evolutionary History
Three Main Crocodilian Groups
Relationship between Crocodilians and Other “Reptiles”
Relationship between Crocodilians and Birds
Natural History
Activity and Seasonality
Reproduction
Behavior
Major Watersheds in Texas and Turtle Diversity
Mississippi Watershed
Canadian River
Red River
Sabine and Neches Watersheds
Sabine River
Neches River
Trinity Watershed
Brazos Watershed
Colorado Watershed
Guadalupe Watershed
Nueces River
Rio Grande Watershed
Rio Grande
Pecos River
Devils River
Conservation
Habitat Loss and Fragmentation
Pollution
Climate Change
Introduced Species
Effects of Predator Control on Turtles and Turtle Nests
Effects of the International Trade in Turtle Meat Products
Collection for the Pet Trade as Cause of Decline
Impacts of Fisheries Practices upon Turtle Species
Historic Declines and Recovery of the American Alligator
Impacts of Sport Hunting on American Alligator Population in Texas
Observation and Collection of Turtles and Crocodilians
Observation of Turtles and Crocodilians
Turtle and Crocodilian Photography
Collection of Turtles
Legal Aspects of Collecting Turtles and Crocodilians
Permits and Collecting Turtles and Crocodilians in Texas
Threatened, Endangered, and Protected Nongame Species
Maintenance of Turtles and Crocodilians
Maintenance of Turtles and Crocodilians in Captivity
Creation of Turtle and Crocodilian Habitat
Handling of Turtles and Crocodilians
Museum and Preserved Specimens
Scientific and Common Names
Dichotomous Key to Texas Turtles
Dichotomous Keys
Key to Texas Turtles
Systematic Accounts
Class: Chelonia
Order Cryptodeira
Family: Chelydridae
Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)
Family: Emydidae
Cagle’s Map Turtle (Graptemys caglei)
Ouachita Map Turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis)
Sabine Map Turtle (Graptemys sabinensis)
False Map Turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica)
Texas Map Turtle (Graptemys versa)
Diamond-backed Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin)
River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna)
Rio Grande Cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi)
Texas River Cooter (Pseudemys texana)
Florida Red-bellied Cooter (Pseudemys nelsoni) – introduced
Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)
Mexican Plateau Slider (Trachemys gaigeae)
Pond Slider (Trachemys scripta)
Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia)
Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina)
Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata)
Family: Testudinidae
Texas Tortoise (Gopherus berlandieri)
Family: Trionychidae
Smooth Softshell (Apalone mutica)
Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera)
Family: Kinosternidae
Yellow Mud Turtle (Kinosternon flavescens)
Rough-footed Mud Turtle (Kinosternon hirtipes)
Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum)
Razor-backed Musk Turtle (Sternotherus carinatus)
Stinkpot (Sternotherus odoratus)
Family: Cheloniidae
Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)
Family: Dermatochelyidae
Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
Class: Crocodilia
Family: Alligatoridae
American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Appendix A: Species with Prehistoric Occurrence in Texas
Appendix B: Nonestablished Exotic Species
Appendix C: Table of Texas Turtles and Crocodilians and River Drainages They Inhabit
Appendix D: Turtle and Crocodilian Informational Resources
Appendix E: Map of Texas Counties
Glossary
Bibliography
Index of Common Names
Index of Scientific Names
Troy D. Hibbitts, a high school science teacher, is a past president and current member of the Texas Herpetological Society. He coauthored Texas Amphibians: A Field Guide and Texas Lizards: A Field Guide.
Terry L. Hibbitts, a trained biologist, is an Honorary Life Member and past president of the Texas Herpetological Society, as well as its current editor. He also coauthored Texas Amphibians: A Field Guide.
"This book fills a void for Texas, which currently lacks a definitive guide to the state's turtle fauna. The high quality of the photographic images should make this book especially appealing to both laypersons and professional biologists."
– Robert Hansen, Editor, Herpetological Review