Clearwater Marine Aquarium is well known for its resident sea turtles but also home to a variety of other reptile species. There are a number of different creatures that are worth learning about.
Where to See
Other Reptiles
Terrapins
(Malaclemys terrapin)
- Status
- Near Threatened
- Average Size
- 5-10 in
- Location
- Eastern US, Brackish Water
- Threats
- Bycatch (crab traps), loss of habitat, nest predation
- Defining Characteristics
- Concentric, diamond-shaped markings and grooves on the scutes
Diamondback Terrapins are a species of turtle that lives in brackish water here in Florida, which is different from our sea turtle residents who live in saltwater.
Red-Footed Tortoise
(Chelonoidis carbonarius)
- Average Size
- 13.5 In
- Location
- South America and Caribbean Islands
- Habitat
- Dry and wet forests, grasslands, and savannas
- Diet
- Small vertebrates, leaves, grasses, fungi, fruit, flowers
Florida Kingsnake
(Lampropeltis getula floridana)
- Average Size
- 36-48 In
- Habitat
- Florida’s Prairies, Marshes, Scrubs, and Estuaries
- Diet
- Birds, amphibians, reptiles
Indian Star Tortoise
(Geochelone elegans)
- LIFESPAN
- 25- 80 Years Old
- AVERAGE SIZE
- 7-12 in
- DIET
- Mainly herbivores. Grasses, flowers, fruit & insects
Russian Tortoise
(Testudo horsfieldii)
- STATUS
- Vulnerable
- LIFESPAN
- 40+ Years
- SIZE
- Males 4-6 inches on average & Females 9-10 inches on average
- DISTRIBUTION
- Russia, Ukraine, Pakistan, and Western China
- DIET
- High fiber, low protein diet consisting mainly of green leafy vegetables and grasses
Smallwood Anole
(Anolis smallwoodi schwartz)
- HABITAT
- Semi-deciduous, evergreen, gallery forests, rainforest, mangroves, and coffee plantations.
- GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
- Native to Cuba
- PREY
- Insects, grubs, and tree frogs
- PREDATORS
- Snakes and birds
