Reptile Guide

The first two captive-bred Palawan forest turtles (Siebenrockiella leytensis) from a breeding program on Palawan island in the Philippines have been released back into the wild. This marks the successful result of a seven-year conservation effort between the Katala Foundation, Inc. (KFI) of the Philippines and Singapore’s Mandai Nature. Named Sonja and Euds, these turtles […]

The Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) announced last week that it has captured, tagged, and released the 99th and 100th alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) in Buffalo Bayou, located in Houston, TX. The 99th turtle, a 131lb male nicknamed J.J. Watt after the Houston Texans football player, and the 100th turtle, a 31lb female, represent a

The Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans), one of the most beautiful tortoises in all of Asia, is sadly disappearing from the India landscape. Escalating illegal poaching of the tortoise has led to its rapid decline over the past 20 years. Though there are multiple reasons for the dwindling population, the primary culprits are poachers and

If you live in the state of Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wants you to know that it is turtle nesting season. The FWC urges those enjoying the outdoors to be on the lookout for turtle nests so they aren’t disturbed. You might see turtle nests in areas where they might not

Researchers from the Senckenberg Natural History Collections in Dresden, Germany, and international scientists have identified a new species of mata mata turtle through genetic analysis. Previously, the mata mata turtle (Chelus fimbriata) was considered the sole species in its genus. The newly described species, Chelus orinocensis, inhabits the Orinoco and Rio Negro basins, while Chelus

The state of Florida does not require turtle excluder devices in crab traps, but the state’s diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) are drowning in them. In response, an international group of turtle experts sent a petition to the state to require these devices. The group, convened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, sent

The Center for Biological Diversity and Healthy Gulf have filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for failing to protect the Pearl River map turtle (Graptemys pearlensis) and the Pascagoula map turtle (Graptemys gibbonsi). These turtle species are only known to inhabit two river systems in Mississippi and Louisiana. The Center initially announced its intent

A bipartisan bill in the South Carolina state senate has been filed to protect the state’s native reptiles and amphibians from commercial exploitation. The authors are hoping that the bill, if passed into law, will end the years of poaching that has been exacerbated by the state’s weak conservation laws. Co-authored by Senators Vincent Sheheen

Hundreds of thousands of female olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) gather each year on the beaches of Costa Rica’s Ostional National Wildlife Refuge to lay their eggs. Biologist Vanessa Bézy, who has been studying the reptiles arrival for years, captured drone video footage of the arrival, or arribada, in November 2016. The day she

An aquarium in North Carolina is asking for your help in naming two baby loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) that are currently in their care. The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher has been caring for the reptiles after they were excavated from their nests earlier this year. The hatchlings failed to leave the nest