[The original South Carolina sighting called it an “alligator man”, but the actual description was a mishmash of reptilian traits. So I figured focusing on its turtle aspects was as good as anything.]
Taugra
CR 5 LN Monstrous Humanoid
This bipedal, vaguely humanoid turtle stands nearly twice the height of a man. It carries a gnarled staff in its broad, clawed hands.
Taugras, referred to some as “ogre turtles”, are patient and wise denizens of the densest swampland. They are nomadic hunters and gatherers that feed on a wide variety of animals and plants, although they prefer fishes, crustaceans and mollusks if given the opportunity. Taugras have an innate ability to control and commune with plants, and they tend to get along well with the rare treants that dwell in swampy land. They consider most humanoids to be too flighty to get along with, but tribes of lizardfolk and other marsh denizens may view a taugra as a sage to be consulted for matters of import to the entire region.
Taugras live either alone or with a partner. Partners are typically sexual partners as well as friends, but taugras are rarely if ever monogamous. They are also indifferent parents, laying large batches of eggs that are left to fend for themselves as mundane turtles do. Juvenile taugras closely resemble mundane snapping turtles, and can be mistaken for them by the untrained eye. A taugra juvenile can live for decades as an animalistic predator before picking itself up on its hind legs and leaving the water to seek out its own kind.
Taugra CR 5
XP 1,600
LN Large monstrous humanoid
Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Perception +7
Defense
AC 19, touch 9, flat-footed 19 (-1 size, +10 natural)
hp 51 (6d10+18)
Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +9
Defensive Abilities duck and cover
Offense
Speed 20 ft., swim 30 ft.
Melee quarterstaff +9/+4 (1d8+6) and bite +7 (1d8+2) or 2 claws +9 (1d4+4), bite +9 (1d8+4)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks snapping jaws
Spell-like Abilities CL 6th, concentration +8
3/day—entangle (DC 13), shillelagh, warp wood (DC 14)
1/day—speak with plants, water breathing
Statistics
Str 18, Dex 11, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 9
Base Atk +6; CMB +11; CMD 21
Feats Alertness, Iron Will, Multiattack
Skills Knowledge (nature) +2, Perception +9, Sense Motive +6, Stealth +1 (+5 in marsh environments), Survival +7, Swim +17; Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth in marsh environments
Languages Draconic
SQ hold breath, swamp stride
Ecology
Environment temperate and warm marshes
Organization solitary, pair or cabal (3-6)
Treasure standard (quarterstaff, other treasure)
Special Abilities
Duck and Cover (Ex) As an immediate action, a taugra can grant itself cover against one attack or effect by tucking itself into its shell. A taugra is staggered for one round after it uses this ability.
Snapping Bite (Ex) A taugra’s bite attack ignores the first 5 points of hardness of an item.
Swamp Stride (Ex) A taugra ignores all difficult terrain due to mud, water or natural vegetation in a marsh environment.