Snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) grow to 18 inches long and to 20-30 pounds. The snapping turtle has a black or dark dark brown shell. Its large head is supported by a very long bumpy neck. It catches and eats fish and even birds. They prefer freshwater habitats with a muddy bottom and rarely leave the water, except to nest. Snapping turtles are known to bite. See this University of Georgia link for more complete information: Chelydra serpentina

Alligator snapping turtles (Macroclemys temmincki) can grow as large as 31 inches, and to 150 pounds, making it the largest freshwater turtle in the U.S. and one of the world's largest freshwater turtles. Partly because it is hunted and killed for food (alligator snapping turtle soup), this animal is a species of special concern. Alligator snapping turtles may be recognized by their large size, the tall ridge on the back of their very rough shells, their very large triangular heads (to 9 inches wide!) and their very long tail. They are seldom seen because they are "bottom walkers" and rarely leave their deep rivers and canals, except to nest. Alligator snapping turtles have evolved a worm-like "fishing lure" that dangles from their open mouths which snap shut when a curious fish is lured in. These turtles are primarily found in the panhandle region of Florida. See this Army Corps of Engineers link for more complete information: Macroclemys temmincki (this is a PDF file)

Common mud turtles (Kinosternon subrubrum) are very small, rarely growing to four inches long. A common mud turtle has a black head with two thin yellow lines. Its smooth shell is olive to brown. Males have a spine at the end of the tail. It will secrete a foul fluid when harrassed. The common mud turtle prefers fresh or brackish marshes and ponds where it often occupies muskrat lodges. It may also use a beaver lodge or alligator nest to lay its eggs. Common mud turtles eat insect larvae and other small aquatic animals. See this University of Georgia link for more complete information: Kinosternon subrubrum

The striped mud turtle (Kinosternon bauri) grows only to five inches long. It has three light stripes on a smooth shell. The stripes may fade as the turtle ages. The male has a spine on the tip of his tail. The striped mud turtle is the most land-loving of the mud turtle group, and may be found in puddles or small retention ponds. It feeds on snails, insects, dead fish, and some vegetation. It is also known as the "cow dung cooter" because it is sometimes found foraging in manure. See this Audubon link for more complete information: Kinosternon bauri

Common musk turtles, or stinkpots (Sternotherus odoratus) average only five inches in length. The common musk turtle has a large pointed black head with yellow stripes and barbels on the side of the head. It has a smooth brown to grey shell that is often covered with algae. This turtle exudes a foul musk-like smell when it is harrassed. Although stinkpots are relatively harmless, aggressive males will bite. Common musk turtles prefer slow-moving streams and ponds where they may be seen basking on logs and low trees; they seldom come to shore. They may use a muskrat lodge to nest. See this University of North Carolina link for more complete information: Sternotherus odoratus

The loggerhead musk turtle (Sternotherus minor) grows to about five inches long. This turtle has a brown to orange shell that may be patterned with spots or streaks. It is pink or yellow on the underside. The head has dark spots or stripes. Barbels protrude from the chin only. The male has a large spine on the tip of the tail. The loggerhead musk turtle may be found in springs, sinkholes, rivers, and swamps where they crawl along the bottom. Like the stinkpot, they are extremely odorous. See this Davidson College link for more complete information: Sternotherus minor

Chicken turtles (Deirochelys reticularia) can grow to ten inches long. They have a long, brownish carapace (top shell) with shallow furrows, having yellow net-like markings. The plastron (bottom shell) is solid yellow. The undersides of the head and legs are yellow with dark stripes. The rear edge of the shell is smooth. The male is much smaller than the female. They have very long necks. The chicken turtle prefers shallow water of ditches and ponds with thick vegetation and may be found basking on logs or wandering on banks. They will bite. Chicken turtle meat is sometimes eaten in southern states. See this University of Georgia link for more complete information: Deirochelys reticularia

The river cooter (Pseudemys (Chrysemys) concinna) is a species of special concern. It is about ten inches long and may be the fastest swimming of all turtles in the U.S. River cooter shells are brown or olive with fine cream-yellow lines. They can be found basking on logs in springs and rivers with moderate currents. They are quick to dive in the water when appraoched. "Cooter" comes from the word, "kuta", which means "turtle" in several African dialects. River cooters are vegetarian turtles, and feed on native aquatic plants like Najas, Sagittaria and Ceratophyllum. River cooter is frequently eaten in the South. This turtle is closely related to the Suwannee cooter (Chrysemys concinna suwanniensis). The Suwannee cooter is listed as a threatened species; they used to be plentiful but have been killed and eaten, and have also suffered from diminshed food plants in its favored habitats. See this University of Georgia link for more complete information: Pseudemys (Chrysemys) concinna

The common cooter (Pseudemys (Chrysemys) floridana) averages twelve inches long. It is black or brown with yellow stripes. Common cooters prefer dense aquatic vegetation in ponds, marshes, rivers, and spring runs. They occassionally venture onto land. See this University of Georgia link for more complete information: Pseudemys (Chrysemys) floridana

Florida redbelly turtles (Pseudemys (Chrysemys) nelsoni) grow to about ten inches long. The shell is black with red-brown bars and reddish on the underside. They have black heads with narrow yellow stripes that shape into an arrow on the snout. There is a large notch at the tip of the upper jaw. Florida redbelly turtles feed on aquatic plants in ponds, marshes, lakes, and mangrove lined creeks. See this Audubon link for more complete information: Pseudemys (Chrysemys) nelsoni

The yellow-bellied slider turtle (Trachemys scripta) grows to eight inches. It is black with yellow bands on each side. Yellow-bellied sliders frequent areas having soft bottoms and dense vegetation. The red-eared slider (Trachmys scripta elegans) is a subspecies native to the Mississippi River basin. Introduced through the pet trade, it competes with the red-bellied turtle and breeds with native yellow bellied sliders. See this University of Georgia link for more complete information: Trachemys scripta

The Florida softshell turtle (Trionyx ferox) has a flat grey to brown head with orange or yellow streaks radiating from a pointed nose. The shell is actually hard, covered with a leathery skin; the shell edge is soft and there are no horny scales. The male grows to eight inches long and the female can reach sixteen inches long and longer. Softshell turtles have very long necks, sharp beaks and ugly tempers - their heads can reach a person holding them from behind. The largest softshell can weigh 35 pounds. They are hunted and eaten by some people. They prefer sandy or muddy bottomed lakes, canals, and springs where they may be found floating in the water or buried in the bottom. Florida softshell turtles feed on snails, amphibians, crayfish, and sometimes small birds. A smaller, rare relative is the gulf coast smooth softshell turtle (Trionxy muticus calvatus). This turtle is medium size, to 9 inches long, and lives in rivers, streams and lakes. See this link for more complete information: Trionyx ferox

Barbour's map turtle (Graptemys barbouri), a rare species of special concern may be found in the Chipola and Apalachicola Rivers. Its knobbed shell is olive grey to brown with yellow "U" markings. It has large yellow or greenish markings behind the eyes. Males can grow to only five inches long; females may reach twelve inches. Barbour's map turtle eats insects, snails, and crayfish. This species has been heavily collected, and as a result the population has dwindled. See this link for more complete information: Graptemys barbouri

Alabama map turtle (Graptemys pulchra) males grow to five inches; females grow to 11 inches long. It has an olive to greenish-brown shell with a black stripe. The underside is yellow with black seams. The head has large yellow or green spots, and yellow or orange stripes run down the neck. Males eat insects; females eat snails and clams. The Alabama map turtle may be found in the western-most tip of the Florida panhandle in creeks of the Escambia and Yellow Rivers where it may live to be 50 years old. See this link for more complete information: Graptemys pulchra

The spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) may grow to five inches long. This rare turtle has a smooth shell, its legs and head are black with orange or yellow spots, and its underside is cream-colored. Males have brown eyes, females have orange eyes. They eat insects, tadpoles and small fish. The spotted turtle may be found basking along slow moving streams and in shallow woodland ponds in northern Florida during the cooler months, but they are also seen on land as well. See this University of Georgia link for more complete information: Clemmys guttata

The eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) is primarily terrestrial although it may be found in wet meadows and floodplains. It grows to nearly nine inches long. The shell may be tan, brown, yellow, or orange. Males have red eyes and female have yellowish eyes. Females store sperm and produce several eggs after a single mating. Box turtles feed on slugs, worms, strawberries, and mushrooms. It can live more than 100 years. See this link for more complete information: Terrapene carolina