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Species Spotlight: Central American Snapping Turtle

Throughout Hicatee Awareness Month, we’re featuring four Belizean turtle species that also face threats and ways we help through conservation actions with our partner, the Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE). This week, meet the Central American Snapping Turtle!

This turtle bears a striking similarity to the Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) found in the United States and Canada but differs in its abundance of pronounced barbels on its skin. In fact, it was once considered a subspecies of the Common Snapping Turtle, but genetic studies revealed it was different enough to be considered its own species.

This turtle, found in southern Mexico and northern Central America, faces threats from habitat destruction, pollution, and overcollection for consumption. Through our work with BFREE, we aim to spread education initiatives with the local communities and perform field surveys to monitor the population of this species on Belize’s 1,153-acre biological field station and reserve in the foothills of the Maya Mountains. 

We also work with this species in the southernmost state of Mexico, Chiapas, through a collaboration with graduate student Eduardo Reyas-Grajales, to perform field surveys and community outreach and engagement.

Follow along throughout October to learn more about the turtles in Belize that need our help, and learn more about these turtles in the educational materials and webinars hosted by BFREE here!

• Pictured: Central American Snapping Turtle
• Countries of Origin: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico
• Habitat: Tropical slow-moving freshwater rivers, swamps, tributaries, and wetlands
• Wild Population: Decreasing; estimated population reduction of 30%
• IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable
• Threats: Habitat destruction, degradation, and pollution; collection for consumption

All photos by Eduardo Reyes Grajales.