Turtles of Pennsylvania: Common Species Overview

1. Turtles of Pennsylvania

2. Overview • Easily identified by their shell. • Top called carapace • Bottom called plastron • May have one or two hinges to close the plastron. • Shells covered by scales called scutes. • Considered more intelligent than most reptiles. • No teeth  hard beak

3. Common Snapping Turtle • Sometimes called the fresh water “loggerhead” • Used for its meat. • Long tail with “spines” on it • Serration on back side of carapace • Beak that ends in a hook • Small plastron compared to other turtles • Loose warty skin on neck. • Omnivores

4. Common Snapping Turtle

5. Snapping turtle

6. Eastern mud turtle * • Believed to be extirpated • Carapace olive to dark brown to black • Plastron is yellow to brown • Plastron is double hinged and has 11 scutes • Head is brown with yellow streaks

7. Eastern mud turtle

8. Stinkpot turtle ~ • Secrete foul-smelling yellowish fluid • High domed carapace • Small plastron – allows for greater movement • Olive-brown to dark grey • Generally two lighter stripes are on the head

9. Stinkpot

10. Midland painted turtle • Olive or black carapace, which is smooth, oval and slightly flattened. • Red and black markings on the edge of the shell. • Plastron yellow or red with a dark blotch. • Bright yellow spots on the head. • Red and yellow stripes on neck, legs, and tail.

11. Midland painted turtle

12. Spotted turtle ~ • Only three inches long • Black carapace with round yellow spots. • Head and legs also have yellow or orange spots. • Orange spot over eyes • Yellow plastron bordered with black

13. Spotted turtle

14. Wood turtle • Brown scutes that are keeled, with a pyramidal shape. (growth rings) • Plastron is yellow and has no hinges • Skin of neck and front legs is reddish orange. • Long tail.

15. Wood turtle

16. Bog Turtle * • Endangered species • Carapace that is light brown to mahogany. • Hingeless plastron. • Black head with a yellow, orange, or red blotch on either side.

17. Bog turtle

18. Blanding’s turtle * • Smooth helmet shaped carapace, which has yellowish spots. • Chin and throat are yellow • Hinged plastron

19. Blanding’s turtle

20. Map Turtle * • Carapace is green to olive-brown. • Random yellow lines found on its back give it its name (looks like a map) • Distinct keel on carapace. • Exposed skin has narrow yellow lines • Yellow triangular spot behind each eye.

21. Map turtle

22. Red-Eared Slider • Non native species • Population is from released pets • Looks similar to map, red bellied, and painted turtles. • Red patch or stripe behind the eye on the side of the head. • Tortuga.

23. Red-Eared Slider

24. Red bellied turtle * • Threatened species • Brown to black shell with a reddish pattern. • Plastron is usually yellow to red but may be coral. • Notch at tip of upper jaw • Arrow shaped stripe runs on top of head to the snout.

25. Red bellied turtle

26. Eastern box turtle ~ • High domed carapace that is keeled. • Black or brown base with yellow, orange, or olive markings. • Plastron hinged • Males usually have red eyes while the females have yellow eyes.

27. Eastern box turtle

28. Eastern Spiny Softshell turtle • Entirely aquatic (lay eggs and bask) • The carapace is soft, olive in color • Slightly darker spots, bordered with black • Dark line around rim of carapace. • Streaks on feet. • Adult males have sandpaper like projections on shell • Nose is tubular (like a snorkel).

29. Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle