Florida Trappers Catch New Species Of Monster-Sized Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtles

A 100-pound Suwannee alligator snapping turtle, a new species that lives in the Suwanee River, was among three of the massive reptiles recently captured by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Katie Johnston reports.

[thornyturtleranchu]

Well, I cant tell you how disappointed I am in this news. I studied this turtle in the early 1990s in the New River and tagged several and have kept the population quiet. It's a crime in Florida to take the turtle so hopefully that deters people but Florida gov. It was my discovery of the geographic variation on this turtle that led to 3 species. In 1998 we published on the DNA variation based on river drainage systems showing distinct lineage that matched morphological variation across the gulf drainages. Why would you have to mention the location? You wouldn't mention a site for a BOG turtle, why on earth would someone with the government publish this for all the world to see. Are they stupid? Nevermind I know the answer is yes. What's funny is when the state of Georgia DNR raided my home illegally and without any probable cause they took all my data and hand drawn maps of the new river. Then they, Ga dnr and allison cauthen accused me of releasing alligator snapping turtle illegally into an Atlantic river in Georgia called the new river which would have been introducing a species into a drainage where they did not occur and this happened because they never understood there was a little river in Florida of that name, and that was my study site. Tragic. There isnt any reason to visit the new river. If you want to poach turtles you'll find more in the appalachicola river or any river west, not that I want anyone removing turtle but i dont want to have to become a professional undercover and covert vigilante on turtle poachers thanks to my life long study site on a rare animal being broadcast to the world. What complete fools and idiots. Stupid stupid stupid. Phuque.

[FerroEquus-]

"Thank you Mario! But our princess is in another castle!" 🐢

[_raj-jnyh]

She's moving towards the skull Island...

[ninjafit]

Lol they say a new species but have been roaming earth for about 40-80 years and ya'll are just now finding out about these things, gtfo.

[boredroomnostalgias]

so they look the same but the DNA result says its a different species

[supermom]

Looks like a hybrid Turtle a snapping turtle half alligator turtle

[gold]

I have five alligator snapping turtles

[gial]

80 years old according to the way they tasted in turtle soup, I bet

[BocephusBocephus]

Just need to let them be nosy people put their opinions where it don't matter just leave the damn dinosaurs alone will ya
#superman...FLORIDA

[cloisterene]

They have been the cause of a few 'mysterious' drownings.

[ryanodonnell]

And now people will be going there to catch them... FACT