Spotted Turtle

Scientific Name: Clemmys guttata

Order: Turtles

Family: Emydidae

Conservation Status

About

Spotted turtles are named after their yellow spots on their black heads, shells, legs and tails. No two spotted turtles ever have the same pattern of spots. Spotted turtles have a carapace (top shell) length ranging from 3.5 to 5.4 inches. Male turtles have dark pigment on the hard portions of both jaws; females have yellowish coloration on their jaws. The sex of the hatchlings is determined by incubation temperatures. Cooler temperatures produce mostly males, while warmer temperatures produce females. Spotted turtles are diurnal, only active during daylight hours and spend the night under water relaxing on the pond bottom.

Loss of habitat has been largely responsible for the major decline of the spotted turtle. They are very sensitive to pollution and toxins and disappearing rapidly with declining water quality.

Find me at EPZ

Location: Habitat HQ

Arrived at EPZ: Yahtzee - 10/7/2020, Domino - 10/7/2020

Habitat & Range
They inhabit shallow wetlands and exist in small, isolated populations scattered on the southern coast of Maine, along the east coast to Georgia. Also Southern Ontario west to Illinois.
Identification
Small turtle with a smooth black carapace featuring yellow spots from the head, across the shell and onto the limbs.
Diet
Spotted turtles are omnivorous and their diet mainly consists of snails, worms, slugs, tadpoles, aquatic vegetation and algae.
Reproduction & Lifespan
Female spotted turtles may wander far from their breeding pools in the spring in search of nesting sites. She lays three to seven eggs which will hatch 70-80 days later. Their average life expectancy is 25-30 years in the wild.
Fantastic Fact
Hatchlings often only have one spot on each scute, while mature individuals may over 100 total spots!

Spotted Turtle

Conservation Status

About

Find me at EPZ

Habitat & Range

Identification

Diet

Reproduction & Lifespan

Fantastic Fact