1915.] natural sciences of philadelphia. ill 



Testudinata. 



1. Macroclemmys temminckii Troost. Plate I, fig. 3. 



The alligator snapper, called by the natives "gator terrapin" 

 or "loggerhead," was reported as being common in the Okefinokee, 

 but very few specimens were seen by our party. No adults were 

 collected. The presence of the alligator snapper in the Okefinokee 

 carries its range eastward to the easternmost Gulf tributary (the 

 Suwannee) and the former eastern boundary of old West Florida. 

 Its association here with Chelydra serpentina suggests that the latter 

 may have been an Atlantic coast contribution through the St. Mary's. 



This turtle is said to attain a large size in its natural habitat in 

 the lakes of this region, and some evidence was secured to bear out 

 this statement. A specimen about eight inches in length' was cap- 

 tured June 17 and placed in a "bee-gum" for safekeeping. On 

 the return to the spot the next day, the turtle had escaped. Dave 

 Lee stated that he had seen turtles with the head alone as large as 

 the shell of this specimen. A skull of Macroclemmys temminckii 

 with the lower mandible missing was found on one of the islands, 

 and it proved by its measurements that this turtle approaches such 

 a size. This skull, old and much weathered, agrees exactly with 

 Boulenger's figure^ in the arrangement of bones and sutures and in 

 the position of the fossse. It measures as follows: 



Maximum length 6| inches, maximum width 6 inche>, width 

 between centres of orbital sockets 2§ inches, diameter of orbit 1 

 inch, distance from eye to snout (between openings) 1 inch, height 

 of upper mandible at anterior hook 2 inches, maximum width of 

 upper mandible (at posterior angle) 4 inches, width of nasal opening 

 1 inch. 



In connection with this data, a large scale, probably from the 

 shell of an "alligator snapper," was found in the swimming hole at 

 the boat landing on Billy's Island, June 9, 1912. This scale is flat, 

 thin, hard and fan-shaped; on the upper surface eight radiating 

 longitudinal ridges and numerous close, concentric, subparallel 

 transverse grooves, the under surface smooth and slightly undulating. 

 The scale is dry and brittle, much weathered and inclined to peel 

 on the upper surface and is the cephalic scale of one of the costal 

 series. Maximum length 5| inches, maximum width 5^ inches, 

 slightly broken on one side at distal angle. 



No eggs of this turtle were collected. 



* British Museum Catalogue, Chelonians, 1889, p. 24, fig. .5. 



