Turtles in Florida

Florida is home to the highest number of turtles and tortoises in the United States. This is due to abundant freshwater and saltwater habitats, including the Suwanee River, Lake Okeechobee, and the Gulf of Mexico. Some notable turtles living here include the Hawksbill Sea Turtle, the Florida Snapping Turtle, and the Florida Box Turtle.

Types of Turtles Found in Florida

Sea Turtles (Cheloniidae)

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

Snapping Turtles (Chelydridae)

• Common Snapping Turtle
• Alligator Snapping Turtle
• Suwannee Snapping Turtle
• Apalachicola Snapping Turtle

Leatherback Sea Turtles (Dermochelyidae)

• Leatherback Sea Turtle

Hawksbill Sea Turtles (Eretmochelys)

• Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Emydid Turtles (Emydidae)

Spotted Turtles

• Spotted Turtle

Painted Turtles

• Southern Painted Turtle

Chicken Turtles

• Eastern Chicken Turtle
• Florida Chicken Turtle 

Map Turtles

• Barbour’s Map Turtle
• Escambia Map Turtle
• False Map Turtle

Terrapins

• Carolina Diamondback Terrapin
• Ornate Diamondback Terrapin
• Mangrove Diamondback Terrapin
• Eastern Florida Diamondback Terrapin

Cooters

• Eastern River Cooter
• Suwannee Cooter
• Coastal Plain Cooter
• Florida Red-bellied Cooter
• Peninsula Cooter

Box Turtles

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

Sliders

• Red-eared Slider
• Yellow-bellied Slider
• Pond Slider

Mud and Musk Turtles (Kinosternidae)

• Striped Mud Turtle 
• Eastern Mud Turtle
• Loggerhead Musk Turtle 
• Eastern Musk Turtle (Stinkpot)
• Florida Mud Turtle
• Pacific Coast Giant Musk Turtle
• Stripeneck Musk Turtle

Softshell Turtles (Trionychidae)

• Gulf Coast Smooth Softshell
• Florida Softshell
• Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell

Tortoises (Testudinidae)

• Gopher Tortoise

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