Reptile Tracking & Biologging Devices
Reptile tracking devices help researchers investigate movement, habitat use, behaviour, thermoregulation and spatial ecology in terrestrial, freshwater and marine reptiles. Effective GPS reptile tracking requires careful adaptation to species biology. Body size, morphology, shelter use, basking behaviour, habitat and time spent underwater can all influence device configuration and performance.
At TechnoSmArt, we develop customizable animal tracking and reptile biologging systems for turtles, tortoises, lizards, snakes, crocodilians and other reptile taxa. Available technologies include GPS, tri-axial acceleration, proximity logging, magnetometry, pressure, temperature, light, CO₂ and wet/dry sensing. Depending on the application, data can be stored locally, downloaded through UHF, transmitted over LTE cellular networks, or communicated through the Iridium satellite network. Attachment is a central part of every reptile tracking project. Solutions can include shell-mounted configurations, glue-on systems, tape-based attachments and customized external housings.
The existing range already includes lightweight GPS systems, combined GPS/accelerometer devices and waterproof systems for diving reptiles.
Choose the Right Device
Researchers should consider:
- species morphology
- animal size
- attachment area
- habitat
- shelter use
- GPS exposure
- deployment duration
- diving depth
- required sensors
- communication method
For terrestrial reptiles, vegetation, rocks, shelters and burrows may reduce satellite visibility.
For aquatic reptiles, GPS scheduling must account for surfacing behaviour, because satellite positions cannot normally be obtained underwater.
The table below provides a quick comparison of the main options.
| Device | Weight | Sensors | Data retrieval | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gipsy 6 | from 1.5 g | GPS | Archival | Lightweight terrestrial GPS studies |
| Gipsy Remote | from 2 g | GPS | UHF remote | Reptiles returning within range of fixed monitoring sites |
| Axy-Trek Mini | from 4.5 g | GPS + accelerometer (+ optional sensors) | Archival | Combined movement + behaviour |
| Axy-Trek Remote | from 10 g | GPS + accelerometer (+ optional sensors) | UHF remote | Movement + behaviour with remote data retrieval |
| Axy-Trek Marine | from 14 g | GPS + accelerometer + pressure/temperature (+ optional sensors) | Archival | Freshwater and marine reptiles, up to 300 m |
| Axy-Trek Marine HD | from 45 g | GPS + accelerometer + pressure/temperature (+ optional sensors) | Archival | Large deep-diving marine reptiles, up to 1,000 m |
| Axy 5 S | from 4.5 g | Accelerometer + magnetometer + temperature (no GPS) | Archival | Behavioural and activity studies |
| Axy 5 XS | from 1 g | Accelerometer + magnetometer + temperature (no GPS) | Archival | Behaviour studies where device mass is critical |
| Proximity | from 0.8 g | UHF proximity logging | Cable / Base Station | Social interactions and association studies |
The Base Station is not a tracking device. It is the fixed receiver used with compatible Remote devices for automatic UHF data retrieval when tagged animals return within communication range.
Explore Our Reptile Tracking and Biologging Devices
Compare GPS loggers, remote-download systems, accelerometer biologgers and multi-sensor solutions for avian research.
Reptile Tracking Technologies
Lightweight GPS Tracking
Lightweight GPS systems can support studies of:
- home range
- habitat use
- dispersal
- migration
- reproductive movements
- post-release monitoring
UHF-enabled configurations can remotely retrieve stored information when animals return to basking areas, refuges, nesting sites or other predictable locations.
GPS & Behaviour
Combining GPS and acceleration allows researchers to link spatial movement with behaviour.
Additional sensors can provide information on:
- temperature
- pressure/depth
- light
- CO₂
- wet/dry state
- orientation
- social interactions
These multi-sensor configurations can support detailed reptile biologging and ecological monitoring.
Freshwater & Marine Reptiles
Aquatic reptiles require specific wildlife tracking technologies. GPS positions depend on access to the surface, while acceleration, pressure and temperature sensors can collect data continuously underwater.
Waterproof systems can support research on:
- diving behaviour
- dive depth
- dive duration
- surfacing behaviour
- vertical habitat use
- nesting movements
- marine habitat use
The current platform includes configurations for deployments down to approximately 300 m and deep-diving systems rated to 1,000 m.
Behavioural Biologging
High-resolution acceleration and magnetometry can support studies of:
- locomotion
- resting behaviour
- activity patterns
- basking
- thermoregulation
- behavioural states
- relative energy expenditure
Temperature, light and CO₂ sensing can provide additional environmental information in selected ecological or experimental applications.
Remote UHF Data Download
Depending on device configuration, TechnoSmArt systems can use:
- archival storage
- UHF remote retrieval
- LTE cellular communication
- Iridium satellite communication
UHF can be useful around predictable locations such as basking sites, refuges and nesting areas.
LTE and Iridium can support longer-range data transmission where device size, antenna exposure and energy availability allow their integration.
Proximity Logging
Proximity systems can support studies of:
- aggregation
- shared refuges
- pair associations
- social interactions
- contact networks
Logging interval and transmission settings can be customized according to the spatial and temporal resolution required.
Custom Configurations
Species-specific customization is especially important in reptile tracking.
TechnoSmArt can customize:
- batteries
- sensors
- GPS schedules
- housings
- waterproofing
- antennas
- UHF communication
- LTE connectivity
- Iridium satellite communication
- solar charging
- attachment systems
Attachment options can include:
- shell-mounted systems
- glue-on devices
- tape-based systems
- low-profile external housings
- custom mounting bases
- other species-specific solutions
For aquatic species, hydrodynamic profile, drag and attachment position must also be considered.
Research Applications
Movement & Spatial Ecology
- Animal movement tracking
- Home range
- Habitat use
- Migration and dispersal
- Nesting movements
- Post-release monitoring
Behaviour & Ecology
- Activity
- Locomotion
- Basking
- Thermoregulation
- Foraging
- Behavioural classification
Aquatic & Conservation Research
- Turtle tracking
- Diving behaviour
- Surfacing patterns
- Marine habitat use
- Reintroduction monitoring
- Conservation research
Published Research
Examples of peer-reviewed research using TechnoSmArt devices on reptiles.
Unsupervised classification of Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) behavioural states from multi-sensor biologger data
Adderley-Heron & Chow-Fraser (2024), PLOS ONE
TechnoSmArt AxyTrek multi-sensor biologgers combining GPS, tri-axial acceleration and environmental sensors were used to classify behavioural states of free-ranging Blanding’s turtles.
🔗 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314291
Using accelerometers for tracking loggerhead and green sea turtle behaviour
Harvey-Carroll et al. (2025), Animal Biotelemetry
Axy-Trek Marine devices were used on loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green turtles (Chelonia mydas) to investigate behavioural classification and the effects of logger attachment position.
🔗 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-025-00415-3
See all published research using TechnoSmArt devices
Find the Right Device
Tell us your target species, animal size, habitat, deployment duration, attachment requirements, sensors and preferred data-retrieval method.
Our team can help develop a custom reptile tracking and biologging system for your study.
FAQ
Gipsy 6 is the lightest GPS logger in our current range, with configurations starting from approximately 1.5 g. For studies requiring UHF remote data retrieval, Gipsy Remote starts from approximately 2 g. Suitability depends on species, body size, morphology, attachment method and deployment duration
Yes. Axy-Trek Mini, Axy-Trek Remote, Axy-Trek Marine and Axy-Trek Marine HD combine GPS with tri-axial acceleration. The most suitable model depends on animal size, habitat, attachment method and whether remote data retrieval or depth sensing is required.
Yes. Compatible Remote devices can transfer stored data by UHF when the animal comes within range of a TechnoSmArt Base Station. This approach is most useful when tagged reptiles regularly return to predictable areas within communication range.
GPS signals cannot normally be acquired while the device is submerged. For freshwater and marine reptiles, GPS schedules should therefore take surfacing behaviour into account. Compatible devices can also use wet/dry or activity information to optimise when GPS acquisition is attempted.
Axy-Trek Mini can combine GPS, acceleration and optional aquatic sensors in a compact configuration. Axy-Trek Marine adds dedicated pressure/temperature sensing and waterproof configurations rated to 300 m, while Axy-Trek Marine HD is designed for larger, deeper-diving animals and is rated to 1,000 m