New Location Records for Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) Captured during Fishery Surveys in Alabama

Abstract

Macrochelys temminckii (Alligator Snapping Turtle) is classified as a species of moderate conservation concern by the State of Alabama and is proposed for listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Using the most up-to-date and best available distribution and biological data is paramount in the decision-making process for any petitioned or proposed-listed species. We provide an additional 21 Alligator Snapping Turtle records from Alabama collected as bycatch during fishery surveys. We incidentally captured 19 Alligator Snapping Turtles from the Alabama (n = 12), Tombigbee (n = 6), and Conecuh (n = 1) rivers and observed 2 additional specimens from the Tallapoosa River drainage. For both the Alabama and Tombigbee rivers combined, 89% of our Alligator Snapping Turtle captures were in backwater areas (i.e., off channel), which are new location records in these river drainages. Researchers and managers should consider contacting and collaborating with colleagues across scientific disciplines to compile and provide the best available data for current species assessments.