The First Record of an Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) in Illinois in 30 Years

Ethan J. Kessler; Christopher A. Phillips; Scott R. Ballard; Michael J. Dreslik

doi:10.1656/058.016.0316

The First Record of an Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) in Illinois in 30 Years

Ethan J. Kessler, Christopher A. Phillips, Scott R. Ballard, Michael J. Dreslik

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Macrochelys temminckii (Alligator Snapping Turtle) populations have experienced range-wide declines over the past century, and records of this species have become increasingly rare in the northern portion of its range. We report the first record of an Alligator Snapping Turtle in Illinois since 1984, only the second in the past 50 years. This individual was captured in a tributary of the undammed portion of the Mississippi River in close proximity to the last 3 published records in Illinois. It is possible that this region provides the last accessible, suitable habitat for this species in Illinois.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	N29-N35
Journal	Southeastern Naturalist
Volume	16
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1656/058.016.0316
State	Published - 2017

Keywords

INHS

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

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10.1656/058.016.0316

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title = "The First Record of an Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) in Illinois in 30 Years",

abstract = "Macrochelys temminckii (Alligator Snapping Turtle) populations have experienced range-wide declines over the past century, and records of this species have become increasingly rare in the northern portion of its range. We report the first record of an Alligator Snapping Turtle in Illinois since 1984, only the second in the past 50 years. This individual was captured in a tributary of the undammed portion of the Mississippi River in close proximity to the last 3 published records in Illinois. It is possible that this region provides the last accessible, suitable habitat for this species in Illinois.",

keywords = "INHS",

author = "Kessler, {Ethan J.} and Phillips, {Christopher A.} and Ballard, {Scott R.} and Dreslik, {Michael J.}",

note = "Acknowledgements. We would like to thank Eva Kwiatek for providing photographs of the wild individual. We also thank Day Ligon and Denise Thompson for their assistance in haplotyping. We are grateful for comments on this manuscript from Sarah Baker and Erika Bilger as well as 2 anonymous reviewers. This work was funded by a State Wildlife Grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and United States Fish and Wildlife (U-1-R-1).",

year = "2017",

doi = "10.1656/058.016.0316",

language = "English (US)",

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journal = "Southeastern Naturalist",

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AU - Phillips, Christopher A.

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AU - Dreslik, Michael J.

N1 - Acknowledgements. We would like to thank Eva Kwiatek for providing photographs of the wild individual. We also thank Day Ligon and Denise Thompson for their assistance in haplotyping. We are grateful for comments on this manuscript from Sarah Baker and Erika Bilger as well as 2 anonymous reviewers. This work was funded by a State Wildlife Grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and United States Fish and Wildlife (U-1-R-1).

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - Macrochelys temminckii (Alligator Snapping Turtle) populations have experienced range-wide declines over the past century, and records of this species have become increasingly rare in the northern portion of its range. We report the first record of an Alligator Snapping Turtle in Illinois since 1984, only the second in the past 50 years. This individual was captured in a tributary of the undammed portion of the Mississippi River in close proximity to the last 3 published records in Illinois. It is possible that this region provides the last accessible, suitable habitat for this species in Illinois.

AB - Macrochelys temminckii (Alligator Snapping Turtle) populations have experienced range-wide declines over the past century, and records of this species have become increasingly rare in the northern portion of its range. We report the first record of an Alligator Snapping Turtle in Illinois since 1984, only the second in the past 50 years. This individual was captured in a tributary of the undammed portion of the Mississippi River in close proximity to the last 3 published records in Illinois. It is possible that this region provides the last accessible, suitable habitat for this species in Illinois.

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The First Record of an Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) in Illinois in 30 Years

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