Author and herpetologist Carl J. Franklin is the curator of the Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center at the University of Texas at Arlington. His writings on turtles and other herpetological subjects have appeared in both popular and technical publications. A boundless enthusiast, Carl spends an inordinate amount of time in the field collecting specimens from the United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. He lives in Grand Prairie, Texas, with his wife, son, dogs, and turtles.