Turtles in Alabama

The southeastern US state of Alabama has extended coastlines, and numerous lakes, rivers, and wetlands, which makes it a heaven for numerous reptiles. Over 30 different turtles and tortoises are native to this state, with the most common species being the eastern box turtle, common snapping turtle, red-eared slider, and Alabama map turtle.

Types of Turtles Found in Alabama

Sea Turtles (Cheloniidae)

• Loggerhead Sea Turtle
• Green Sea Turtle
• Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

Snapping Turtles (Chelydridae)

• Common Snapping Turtle
• Alligator Snapping Turtle

Leatherback Sea Turtles (Dermochelyidae)

• Leatherback sea turtle

Emydid Turtles (Emydidae)

Painted Turtles

• Southern Painted Turtle
• Eastern Painted Turtle

Chicken Turtles

• Eastern Chicken Turtle

Map Turtles

• Northern Map Turtle
• Barbour’s Map Turtle
• Escambia Map Turtle
• Ouachita Map Turtle
• Alabama Map Turtle
• Black-knobbed Sawback

Terrapins

• Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin

Cooters

• Alabama Red-bellied Turtle
• River Cooter
• Florida Cooter

Box Turtle

• Eastern Box Turtle
• Gulf Coast Box Turtle
• Three-toed Box Turtle

Siders

• Red-eared Slider
• Yellow-bellied Slider

Mud and Musk Turtles (Kinosternidae)

• Striped Mud Turtle 
• Eastern Mud Turtle
• Razor-backed Musk Turtle 
• Flattened Musk Turtle
• Loggerhead Musk Turtle
• Eastern Musk Turtle (Stinkpot)
• Striped-necked Musk Turtle 

Softshell Turtles (Trionychidae)

• Gulf Coast Smooth Softshell
• Florida Softshell
• Midland Smooth Softshell
• Eastern Spiny Softshell
• Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell

Tortoises (Testudinidae)

• Gopher Tortoise

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