Solving the Enigma of an Extralimital Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys suwanniensis) Population in the Homosassa River, Florida

Kevin M. Enge^1,*, Travis M. Thomas², Katherine Spratt³, Greg D. Brashear⁴, Jack C. Thompson⁵, Alexander R. Krohn⁶, Matthew T. Fedler^1,7, and Shea A. Husband²

¹Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 1105 SW Williston Road, Gainesville, FL 32601. ²University of Florida, Nature Coast Biological Station, Cedar Key, FL 32625. ³Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Homosassa, FL 34446. ⁴Dallas, GA 30157. ⁵Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL 32606. ⁶Tangled Bank Conservation, Asheville, NC 28801. ⁷Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. *Corresponding author.

Southeastern Naturalist, Volume 25, Issue 3 (2026): 385–402

First published early online: 26 August 2026

Abstract
We conducted a study to determine the origin and provenance of Macrochelys sp. (alligator snapping turtles) in the Homosassa River >70 km from the nearest known population. In 2023‒2024, we captured 14 males and 4 females in Pepper Creek, a Homosassa tributary. Genetic analyses of 16 turtles determined they were M. suwanniensis (Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle) that originated from near the confluence of the Santa Fe and Suwannee rivers, and they were parent–offspring or siblings. The population apparently resulted from 4 turtles escaping from a tourist attraction >40 years ago. Based on our capture–recapture model, there are ~33 (min–max = 22–55) individuals in Pepper Creek. Additional research is needed to better understand the health and conservation status of this population.

Download Full-text pdf (Accessible only to subscribers. To subscribe click here.)