Species #54: Barbour’s map turtle (Graptemys barbouri)
Location: Ichawaynochaway Creek, Jones Ecological Research Center (Baker County, Georgia)
Date: 3 November 2017
Post by George L. Heinrich
My old friend John Byrd (Clinch River Environmental Studies Organization) was planning a long road trip through the Southeast with the goal of finding the best raw oysters. He invited me to tag along and since he also likes turtles and I also like oysters, it seemed likely that this trip would be fun. The species count for The Big Turtle Year (TBTY) stood at 53 and just six species remained on our list to be found, half of which became target species for this nine-day, five-state trip. We met up in Knoxville, the largest city near John’s home, and headed southward to search for an Apalachicola alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys apalachicolae), chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia), Barbour’s map turtle (Graptemys barbouri), and of course oysters.
It was a long drive to the Florida panhandle and the only turtles that we saw were basking yellow-bellied sliders (Trachemys s. scripta) and cooters (Pseudemys sp.). I wasn’t too worried since we would be spending the next two days exploring some beautiful habitat at Jones Ecological Research Center (JERC; www.jonesctr.org) in southwestern Georgia where all three of our target species are known to occur. Dr. Lora L. Smith (Staff Scientist, JERC), a long-time friend, had agreed to assist with this conservation education project and she and her staff set a string of seven hoop net traps baited with catfish along Ichawaynochaway Creek on the day before our arrival.
Our first morning at JERC was filled with anticipation and the hope that we would find an Apalachicola alligator snapping turtle in one of the hoop net traps. However, we knew that it would be a long shot since it was late in the season and the water was already getting cold. Lora, John, and I were joined by James Hunt (Research Field Technician, JERC) as we boated a protected, five-mile section of the creek and checked the traps. We did not capture a single turtle that day, but we were fortunate enough to observe three basking turtles which were taking advantage of the warming temperature during the day. Soaking up some rays were an eastern river cooter (Pseudemys c. concinna), yellow-bellied slider, and a large, adult female Barbour’s map turtle, the latter of which became species #54 for The Big Turtle Year. This was particularly exciting as it was the 14th and final species in the genus Graptemys. Our first map turtle, a Mississippi map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii), was observed in Texas over six months earlier (see Update #6).
Ichawaynochaway Creek (Jones Ecological Research Center; JERC), home to several turtle species. Photograph by George L. Heinrich.
Lora L. Smith (Staff Scientist, JERC) leading the way downriver on Ichawaynochaway Creek. Photograph by George L. Heinrich.
John Byrd (Clinch River Environmental Studies Organization) checking hoop net traps on Ichawaynochaway Creek. Photograph by George L. Heinrich.
This photograph of a basking male Barbour's map turtle (Graptemys barbouri) was taken by Timothy J. Walsh in Jackson County, Florida prior to The Big Turtle Year. Species #54 was actually a large, adult female.
Jones Ecological Research Center consists of a mosaic of habitats and we were lucky to observe a juvenile southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus) that was trapped in the uplands during Lora’s ongoing research. I have seen eastern hognose snakes (H. platyrhinos) in the past, but this was a lifer for me. We also searched for eastern chicken turtles at known wetland sites, but none were to be found. I suppose that it should not have been too much of a surprise since I had searched for this species in four states throughout the year to no avail.
James Hunt (Research Field Technician, JERC) and John Byrd (left to right) checking traps in upland habitat at JERC. Photograph by George L. Heinrich.
A beautiful, juvenile southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus) captured in the uplands at JERC. Photograph by George L. Heinrich.
Lora L. Smith and George L. Heinrich at a known chicken turtle site located at JERC. Photograph by John Byrd.
Adult southeastern crowned snake (Tantilla coronata), photographed at Dr. Whit Gibbons’ private preserve. Photograph by George L. Heinrich.
The following day found John and I driving northeastward through Georgia toward Aiken, South Carolina. Along the way we stopped to look at a road-killed eastern box turtle (Terrapene c. carolina) and safely relocate a yellow-bellied slider from a busy road to a nearby pond. Our goal for the day was to arrive safely at Dr. Whit Gibbons’ (www.whitgibbons.com) home for a four-day visit, which would include some herping at his private preserve in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. It was a real treat to spend time with this famed naturalist, herpetologist, and environmental educator, and Whit could not have been more hospitable. John, Whit, and I found 16 species and had a blast in the field together. Dr. Kurt Bulhmann even dropped by for an afternoon and helped check coverboards where we found a southeastern crowned snake (Tantilla coronata). Please see Whit’s weekly Ecoviews column for his take on TBTY and more on our visit, click here.
Dr. Whit Gibbons, George L. Heinrich, and John Byrd (left to right) at Whit’s private preserve in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. Photograph by George L. Heinrich.
Dr. Whit Gibbons and George L. Heinrich herping at Whit’s private preserve. Photograph by John Byrd.
Dr. Whit Gibbons examining a juvenile common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) captured at his private preserve. Photograph by George L. Heinrich.
This was a welcome trip with my good friend John, one that was long overdue. After nine days and over 1,600 road miles, I was on a return flight to Tampa and thinking about the five species that remained on our list: hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), Apalachicola alligator snapping turtle, chicken turtle, and yellow mud turtle (Kinosternon flavescens). Our next trip would focus on finding a ridley and I knew exactly where to look.