Reptiles Magazine
The female to male ratio of the species in the bayou is 1:1
May 11, 2021
Turtle #99 was a hulking 131 lb. male, affectionately named J.J. Watt in honor of the former Houston Texans’ defensive end. Photo by Eric Munscher
The Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) announced last week that it has captured, tagged and released the 99th and 100th alligator snapping turtle (
Macrochelys temminckii) in Buffalo Bayou, located in Houston, TX.
The 99th turtle, a 131lb male is nicknamed J.J. Watt, after the defensive end football player with the Houston Texans. The 100th turtle is a 31 lb female, who represents what the TSA calls a milestone in the organization’s conservation initiative. The species is listed by the state as threatened.