Turtles are reptiles belonging to the order Testudines, which is one of four reptilian orders, the others being crocodilians, squamates (lizards and snakes) and rhynchocephalians (tuatara).On this page we take a look at 30 notable types of turtles, from the land-dwelling desert tortoise Gopherus agassizii, to the mighty leatherback sea turtle Dermochelys coriacea, the world’s largest living turtle.
Well-known types of turtles include tortoises, which are land-living turtles of family Testudinidae; terrapins, which are generally small, aquatic turtles; and sea turtles, which are seven species of large, marine turtles.Hidden-neck turtles (suborder Cryptodira) are able to pull their heads straight back into their shells.Side-necked turtles (suborder Pleurodira) have to move their necks sideways in order to protect their heads in their shells.Below is a list of turtle species from all around the world.
We’ve included turtles commonly kept as pets; two of the seven species of sea turtle (you can see the others on this page: Sea Turtles); North American turtles such as the box, musk and snapping turtles, and interesting turtle species from other parts of the world…Types Of Turtles IndexAfrican Helmeted TurtleAlabama Red-Bellied CooterAlligator Snapping TurtleArrau Turtle / Giant River TurtleAsian Giant Softshell TurtleBig-Headed TurtleCommon Box TurtleCommon Musk TurtleCommon Snapping TurtleDesert TortoiseDiamondback TerrapinEast African Black Mud TurtleEastern Long-Necked TurtleFalse Map TurtleFlorida Softshell TurtleFour-Eyed TurtleGreen Sea TurtleHickateeLeatherback Sea TurtleMalaysian Giant TurtleWestern Box Turtle / Ornate Box TurtlePainted TurtlePig-Nosed TurtlePond SliderRoti Island Snake-Necked TurtleSpiny Softshell TurtleSpotted TurtleStriped Mud TurtleWestern Swamp TurtleRelated PagesReptiles: The Ultimate GuideTypes Of LizardsTypes Of ReptilesIs A Turtle A Reptile?
And Why?Reptile BooksAfrican Helmeted TurtleScientific name: Pelomedusa subrufaSuborder: Pleurodira (side-necked turtles)Family: PelomedusidaeWhere found: Africa (including Madagascar), AsiaConservation status: UnassessedThe African helmeted turtle is a small, side-necked turtle found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, and in Yemen in western Asia.Also known as “crocodile turtle” and “marsh terrapin”, this semi-aquatic species can be found in both permanent and temporary bodies of water, but shows a preference for standing water such as lakes, swamps and rain puddles over rivers.The African helmeted turtle shares its habitat with iconic African animals such as crocodiles, warthogs, hippopotamuses, buffalos and rhinos.
In recent years, it has been documented that some of these larger mammals benefit from the turtle eating parasites from their bodies.Unlike other members of the family Pelomedusidae, the African helmeted turtle does not possess a hinged plastron, and is therefore unable to encase its head and front limbs in its shell by closing its plastron.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more African reptiles on this page: African Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexAlabama Red-Bellied CooterScientific name: Pseudemys alabamensisSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: EmydidaeWhere found: North AmericaConservation status: EndangeredThe Alabama red-bellied cooter is a member of the pond turtle family, Emydidae.
Females are slightly bigger than males, having a maximum length of around 35.5 cm / 14 in, compared to the males’ 30 cm / 12 in.The Alabama red-bellied cooter inhabits dense vegetation in freshwater and brackish waters of the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more North American reptiles on this page: North American Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexAlligator Snapping TurtleScientific name: Macrochelys temminckiiSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: ChelydridaeWhere found: North AmericaConservation status: VulnerableThe alligator snapping turtle reaches weights of over 100 kg / 220 lb., and has a carapace length of over 80 cm / 2.62 ft., making it one of the world’s largest freshwater turtle species.
Only the Asian softshell species of family Trionychidae reach similar (or larger) sizes.Named for the resemblance of its heavily-ridged shell to the skin of an alligator, the alligator snapping turtle is found in the southeastern United States.
The tip of its tongue resembles a worm, and by sitting motionless on the riverbed with its mouth open, the turtle lures fish – attracted by the “worm” – to within snapping range of its powerful jaws.The turtle will also eat a wide variety of other prey, including birds, snakes, mammals and even other turtles.
Its powerful jaws are quite capable of severing a human finger.Discover More With Active WildYou can find out more about the alligator snapping turtle on this page: Alligator Snapping Turtle FactsYou can see more North American reptiles on this page: North American Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexArrau Turtle / Giant River TurtleAjoposor, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped / resized by ActiveWild.com)Scientific name: Podocnemis expansaSuborder: Pleurodira (side-necked turtles)Family: PodocnemididaeWhere found: South AmericaConservation status: Lower Risk / Conservation DependentThe Arrau turtle is both the largest side-neck turtle, and the largest non-marine turtle, found in South and Central America.
It is a member of the family Podocnemididae.Individuals of this species normally reach a carapace length of 90 cm / 35 in.
have occurred.While primarily herbivorous, the giant river turtle is an opportunistic feeder that will eat carrion and smaller animals when it has the chance to do so.The Arrau turtle was once a common sight along the banks of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, but in recent times its population has decreased dramatically.
It is heavily hunted by locals for its meat and eggs, even in areas where this practice has been deemed illegal.Discover More With Active WildDiscover more rainforest reptiles on this page: Rainforest Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexAsian Giant Softshell TurtlePhoto: Dementia, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped / resized by ActiveWild.com)Scientific name: Pelochelys cantoriiSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: TrionychidaeWhere found: Southeast AsiaConservation status: Critically EndangeredThe Asian giant softshell turtle is a member of the “softshell turtle” family, Trionychidae.
Adults are mostly olive green, while juveniles tend to have some dark spots on their shells and faces.With a carapace that reaches lengths of up to 1 m / 3.28 ft, the Asian giant softshell turtle is the largest member of its family.
Females are significantly larger than males.Unproven reports of individuals with carapace lengths of up to 1.8 m / 5.9 ft.
would make the species the largest freshwater turtle; as things stand, it shares this title with several other members of its family.The Asian giant softshell will occasionally eat aquatic plants but is are mainly carnivorous.
It is an ambush hunter, relying on a fast, outward head movement paired with a simultaneous and powerful bite to capture its prey.The species’ population is rapidly decreasing, mainly due to habitat destruction and human consumption of individuals and eggs.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more Asian animals on this page: Asian Animals: Pictures & FactsBack to indexBig-Headed TurtlePhoto: luki, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped / resized by ActiveWild.com)Scientific name: Platysternon megacephalumSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: PlatysternidaeWhere found: Southeast AsiaConservation status: Critically EndangeredThe big-headed turtle is a hidden-neck turtle found in east and southeast Asia.As its name suggests, the big-headed turtle has a disproportionately large head.
Its head, and long tail together make up for half of its average body length of 40 cm / 16 inches.The turtle’s muscular, long tail is able to hold the entire weight of the turtle, and is used to help the turtle climb over obstacles.Although the big-headed turtle’s head can’t retract into the shell, it has an extremely strong skull to make up for the lack of protection.Very little is known about the big-headed turtle’s reproductive habits besides the fact that it lays just 1 – 2 eggs per clutch.This, combined with threats such as an ever-growing demand from the illegal pet trade and habitat loss throughout its range, have caused the species to become Critically Endangered.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more Asian animals on this page: Asian Animals: Pictures & FactsBack to indexCommon Box TurtleScientific name: Terrapene carolinaSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: EmydidaeWhere found: North AmericaConservation status: VulnerableThe common box turtle is one of six or seven species of box turtle, which together make up the genus Terrapene.
It is also known as the “eastern box turtle”.(There is some debate over the exact number of box turtle species, as the Yucatán box turtle is considered by some to be a subspecies of the common box turtle, rather than a separate species.)The plastron of a Box turtle is hinged, allowing the turtle to close up its shell to protect itself from predators.Found in southern Canada, the eastern United States and northern Mexico, the common box turtle is, like all box turtles, primarily terrestrial (land-dwelling).
It inhabits forests, shrublands and inland wetlands.The common box turtle has seven subspecies, including the eastern box turtle, Florida box turtle and Mexican box turtle.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more North American reptiles on this page: North American Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexCommon Musk TurtleScientific name: Sternotherus odoratusSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: KinosternidaeWhere found: North AmericaConservation status: Least ConcernThe common musk turtle is also known as the “stinkpot”, due to its ability to secrete a foul-smelling yellowish fluid from scent glands located on its undersides.The small turtle’s shell is between 7.5 and 14 cm / 3 and 5.5 inches in length, and is smooth and high-domed.
Two yellow stripes run along either side of the head.The common musk turtle is found in southeastern Canada, and throughout most of the eastern United States.
Its diet consists mainly of mollusks.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more North American reptiles on this page: North American Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexCommon Snapping TurtleScientific name: Chelydra serpentinaSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: ChelydridaeWhere found: North America (introduced: parts of Asia)Conservation status: Least ConcernDue to its perceived aggression and the fabled power of its jaws, the common snapping turtle is one of America’s best known turtle species.
It is the most widespread of the three snapping turtle species, and the only one found in the United States and Canada.Snapping turtle eggs and hatchlings have many predators, but once the species reaches a certain size it is relatively safe from predation.
Only bears, alligators, and with less frequency, river otters, have been documented preying on adult snappers.The common snapping turtle is solitary and extremely aggressive.
It has been known to fatally injure other turtles with its powerful jaws.An omnivore, the common snapping turtle eats large amounts of aquatic plants, as well as foraging for carrion and actively hunting numerous animals, including waterfowl and small mammals.
It usually employs an ambush strategy, waiting for its prey to draw near before launching an attack.The common snapping turtle has a maximum carapace length of 50 cm / 19 inches and a maximum weight of 35 kg / 77 lb., although the average specimen is significantly smaller.
The species’ tail is almost as long as its shell.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more North American reptiles on this page: North American Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexDesert TortoiseScientific name: Gopherus agassiziiSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: TestudinidaeWhere found: Southwestern United StatesConservation status: Critically EndangeredAlso known as “Mojave desert tortoise” and “California desert tortoise”, the desert tortoise is endemic to (only found in) the United States.
It inhabits dry shrublands in California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.Females lay 1 clutch per year, each of which may contain between 1 and 14 eggs (the average is 3 to 5 eggs.) The yolk provides the infant with enough nutrients not only for its development inside the egg, but also for up to 6 months after hatching.Desert tortoises are herbivorous.
They are equipped with long claws that make them efficient diggers.Males tend to be larger than females, reaching a weight of 20 kg / 44 lbs.
It must, however, remain close to freshwater to avoid dehydration.As with sea turtles, the female terrapin finds a nesting site on beaches above the high tide line.
The terrapins enter the crab pots, and, unable to escape, eventually drown.Other contributing causes to the diamondback terrapin’s decline include a loss of nesting sites due to agricultural and residential development, and being hit by both cars and boats.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more North American reptiles on this page: North American Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexEast African Black Mud TurtlePhoto: Abu Shawka, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped / resized by ActiveWild.com)Scientific name: Pelusios subnigerSuborder: Pleurodira (side-necked turtles)Family: PelomedusidaeWhere found: AfricaConservation status: Least ConcernThe East African black mud turtle is an African species also known as the Pan terrapin and the black-bellied hinged terrapin.
It is found in tropical and sub-tropical regions of eastern and southeastern Africa.The species’ carapace is 13 to 20 cm / 5.1 to 7.9 inches in length, and is mostly smooth with yellow markings on its edges.An omnivore, the East African black mud turtle will eat fish, invertebrates and plants.
It is mostly active at night.This species can be kept as a pet, but although easily handled, will act aggressively towards other turtles.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more African reptiles on this page: African Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexEastern Long-Necked TurtlePhoto: jjron [CC BY-SA 3.0] (cropped / resized by ActiveWild.com)Scientific name: Chelodina longicollisSuborder: Pleurodira (side-necked turtles)Family: ChelidaeWhere found: AustraliaConservation status: UnassessedNamed after its exceptionally long neck, this freshwater turtle is found in southeastern Australia.
The head and neck, when extended, make up 60% of the turtle’s total length of 25 cm / 9.84 in.The eastern long-necked turtle has a lifespan of up to 37 years.
It is also known to retract its head into its shell and charge a potential predator, sometimes while also snapping its jaws defensively.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more Australian reptiles on this page: Australian Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexFalse Map TurtleScientific name: Graptemys pseudogeographicaSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: EmydidaeWhere found: United StatesConservation status: Least ConcernThe false map turtle is one of 14 species of map turtle, so-named due to the map-like markings on their shells.
The species is also known as the “Mississippi map turtle”.The female has a carapace length of 20 – 27 cm / 7.9 – 10.6 in., making it around twice as long as the male, which reaches lengths of 9 – 14 cm / 3.5 – 5.5 in.Like most turtle and tortoise species, the false map turtle has temperature dependent sex determination, with cooler nests resulting in all-male clutches, and warmer nests resulting in all-female clutches.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more North American reptiles on this page: North American Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexFlorida Softshell TurtleScientific name: Apalone feroxSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: TrionychidaeWhere found: North AmericaConservation status: Least ConcernThe Florida softshell turtle is the largest member of the softshell turtle family, Trionychidae, found in the Americas.Endemic to (only found in) the United States, the species inhabits slow-moving and still bodies of freshwater in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama.Unlike most other turtle and tortoise species, the sex of the hatchlings is completely genetic and not affected at all by nest temperature.The color of individuals ranges from dark olive green to brown.
The plastron is usually white.Like all softshell turtles, the Florida softshell turtle’s shell lacks hard, bony scutes, and is soft and leathery to the touch.Sexual dimorphism occurs in this species with females being up to four times larger than the males.
Larger females are attributed with larger clutch sizes.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more North American reptiles on this page: North American Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexFour-Eyed TurtleFrançois Charles, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped / resized by ActiveWild.com)Scientific name: Sacalia quadriocellataSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: GeoemydidaeWhere found: East and Southeast AsiaConservation status: Critically EndangeredThe four-eyed turtle is one of the most striking species of turtle, having two – sometimes four – “fake” eye spots on the back of its head.Four-eyed turtles of both sexes are 11 – 15 cm / 4.3 – 5.9 in.
Males have blue-green eye spots, while those of the female are yellow.The species’ population is decreasing mainly due to their use in Asian food and medicine, as well as the capture of wild turtles for the pet trade.
Although they are solitary, and only interact with each other during the breeding season, they don’t seem to mind sharing their space with other animals, including conspecifics.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more Asian animals on this page: Asian Animals: Pictures & FactsBack to indexGreen Sea TurtleScientific name: Chelonia mydasSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: CheloniidaeWhere found: Tropical and subtropical waters globallyConservation status: EndangeredReaching a weight of 200 kg / 440 lb., the green sea turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle; only the leatherback sea turtle, which has a leathery carapace, is larger.The green sea turtle gets its name, not because of its carapace color (which is a dark olive), but because of the green fat found under it.It takes green sea turtles from 20 to 50 years to reach sexual maturity.
Very few hatchlings survive past their first year; according to several studies it is estimated that only 1 out of every 1000 make it to adulthood.Green sea turtles are omnivores as juveniles, but after reaching a certain size their diet becomes almost entirely herbivorous.This species is very social and usually moves in large groups that can swim as far as 90 km / 55.9 miles in a day.Discover More With Active WildYou can find out more about the green sea turtle on this page: Green Sea Turtle FactsYou can find out more about sea turtles on this page: Sea Turtle FactsBack to indexHickateePhoto: Matěj Baťha, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped / resized by ActiveWild.com)Scientific name: Dermatemys mawiiSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: DermatemydidaeWhere found: Central AmericaConservation status: Critically EndangeredThe Hickatee, also known as the central American river turtle, is found only in Atlantic-draining rivers and lakes from Southern Mexico, through Belize, to Guatemala.
It mainly inhabits large, deep rivers and lakes, but will swim to other areas during the rainy season when water levels are higher.The species is entirely aquatic, not even leaving the water to bask.
This increases the chance of success for nests in flood-prone areas.The Hickatee was culturally significant to ancient Mayan culture and was almost hunted to extinction during Mayan times.The species’ situation is little improved today; still hunted for food, the hickatee is likely the most threatened turtle in its range.
There is a strong possibility of its become extinct, despite Belize being the only country in which hunting the turtle is still legal.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more North American reptiles on this page: North American Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexLeatherback Sea TurtleScientific name: Dermochelys coriaceaSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: DermochelyidaeWhere found: GloballyConservation status: VulnerableThe leatherback sea turtle is the largest of all turtles, and the second-largest marine reptile, after the saltwater crocodile.
and weights of over 450 kg / 1000 lb.The leatherback sea turtle’s carapace lacks the hard, bony scutes found in the shells of hard-shelled turtles.
The leatherback is the only sea turtle to have such a shell.The leatherback has a “cosmopolitan” global range, which extends across most of the world’s oceans, except Antarctica.A migratory species, the leatherback sea turtle spends most of its time in open water, only coming ashore to lay eggs.
(Male sea turtles never again set foot on land after hatching.)The species feeds primarily on jellyfish and has an unusual adaptation to help it survive this diet: the turtle’s throat is lined with spines, which protect it from being stung.The leatherback turtle is classified as vulnerable due to loss of habitat and hunting.Discover More With Active WildYou can find out more about the leatherback sea turtle on this page: Leatherback Sea Turtle FactsYou can find out more about sea turtles on this page: Sea Turtle FactsBack to indexMalaysian Giant TurtlePhoto: Muhammad Yeriyan Nurramadhan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped / resized by ActiveWild.com)Scientific name: Orlitia borneensisSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: GeoemydidaeWhere found: Indonesia and MalaysiaConservation status: Critically EndangeredWith a carapace length of up to 80 cm / 2.62 ft.
and a maximum weight of 50 kg / 110 lb., the Malaysian Giant Turtle is one of the largest turtle species in Southeast Asia.
It is found in freshwater swamps, lakes and rivers in Peninsular Malaysia, and on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra.This species primarily eats fish, but will also consume other small animals or fallen fruit.The Malaysian Giant Turtle is critically endangered due to hunting and habitat loss.
As the demand for palm oil increases, more and more rainforest is being cleared to make way for plantations, Causing many animals to become endangered.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more Asian animals on this page: Asian Animals: Pictures & FactsBack to indexPainted TurtleWestern Painted TurtleScientific name: Chrysemys pictaSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: EmydidaeWhere found: North AmericaConservation status: Least ConcernThe Painted Turtle is a common sight in ponds and lakes across North America.
It is the most wide-ranging North American turtle, being found across the United States, as well as into southern Canada and northern Mexico.The painted turtle is between 12 and 25 cm / 5 and 10 in.
in length, with females being slightly larger than males.
With bright yellow and red markings, it’s not hard to see how this turtle got its name.Although mostly aquatic, the species will often pull itself out of the water to bask in the sun on logs or rocks.
It is an omnivore, with both plant matter and small animals featuring in its diet.During the winter months, the painted turtle buries itself in the mud at the bottom of a body of water and hibernates.
This enables the species to inhabit regions that would otherwise be too cold for reptiles.While buried in the mud, the painted turtle is unable to breathe, and the species is a much-studied example of a vertebrate that can survive for long periods without oxygen.
(Source)Discover More With Active WildYou can see more North American reptiles on this page: North American Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexPig-Nosed TurtleScientific name: Carettochelys insculptaSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: CarettochelyidaeWhere found: Northern Australia and southern New Guinea.Conservation status: EndangeredFound in the freshwater marshes and rivers of northern Australia, the pig-nosed turtle gets its name from its distinctive, pig-like snout, which is highly sensitive and helps the animal to forage for food.The species is also notable for having flippers, rather than feet.
In this respect it resembles sea turtles, rather than other freshwater turtles.The pig-nosed turtle is part of the superfamily Trionychidae, also known as the soft-shell turtles.
However, unlike others of this group, the pig-nosed turtle retains a bony carapace under its leathery skin instead of the usual flat plate.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more Australian reptiles on this page: Australian Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexPond SliderRed-eared slider, a subspecies of pond slider.Scientific name: Trachemys scriptaSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: EmydidaeWhere found: South-central and southeastern United States and northern Mexico.Conservation status: Least ConcernThe pond slider is a species of turtle native to the southern and southeastern United States and northern Mexico.
The species is semi-aquatic, spending time both on land and in the water.Due to its small size and docile nature, the pond slider is a popular pet turtle, both in its native North America and in many other parts of the world.
Released pets can be detrimental to ecosystems, posing a threat to native turtles and other species.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more North American reptiles on this page: North American Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexRoti Island Snake-Necked TurtleRoti Island Snake-Necked TurtleScientific name: Chelodina mccordiSuborder: Pleurodira (side-necked turtles)Family: ChelidaeWhere found: Southeast AsiaConservation status: Critically Endangered (possibly extinct in the wild)The Roti Island snake-necked turtle was found on two Southeast Asian islands: Rote, which is part of Indonesia, and Timor.
(The turtle is found on the East Timor part of the island).Today, the critically endangered turtle may be extinct in the wild on Rote.The Roti Island snake-necked turtle is known for its long neck, which can grow to almost as long as the carapace.As a result of its unique appearance, the species is a popular target for poachers due to its high value in the illegal pet trade.
(Source)Captive breeding programs have been established in an attempt to save this species from extinction, but the future of the Roti Island Snake-Necked Turtle is far from certain.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more Asian animals on this page: Asian Animals: Pictures & FactsYou can see more ugly animals on this page: Ugly Animals Pictures & FactsBack to indexSpiny Softshell TurtleTexas Spiny Softshell TurtleScientific name: Apalone spiniferaSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: TrionychidaeWhere found: North AmericaConservation status: Least ConcernThe spiny softshell turtle is a freshwater turtle found across North America.
Another distinguishing feature is the species’ long, “pig-like” nose.With a maximum carapace length of around 54 cm / 21 in., the spiny softshell turtle is one of the continent’s largest freshwater turtles.
Only females reach this size; males are somewhat smaller.While most turtles are shy and reclusive, the Spiny Softshell Turtle is comparatively sociable and can often be seen basking communally in the sun.The spiny softshell turtle is able to “breathe underwater” by absorbing oxygen and emitting carbon dioxide via its skin; no other freshwater turtle is as dependent on this method of breathing.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more North American reptiles on this page: North American Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexSpotted TurtleScientific name: Clemmys guttataSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: EmydidaeWhere found: North AmericaConservation status: EndangeredThe Spotted Turtle is a small, semi-aquatic turtle found in ponds, marshes, and other wetlands throughout the eastern United States and Canada.
Its carapace is black or dark brown with yellow spots, and between 9 and 13 cm / 3.5 and 5 inches in length.A shy, reclusive species, the spotted turtle spends most of its time buried in mud at the bottom of ponds or streams.
An omnivore, the spotted turtle feeds mainly on small aquatic animals, such as insect larvae and small fish, but will also eat plant material such as fruit and algae.The spotted turtle is endangered due to a number of factors, including being taken from the wild to supply the pet trade, collisions with motor vehicles, and habitat loss.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more North American reptiles on this page: North American Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexStriped Mud TurtleScientific name: Kinosternon bauriiSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: KinosternidaeWhere found: North AmericaConservation status: Least ConcernThe Striped Mud Turtle is a small, stocky turtle with a dark brown or black shell marked with yellowish stripes.
Like all turtles of family Kinosternidae (which includes mud and musk turtles), its carapace has a visible keel running along its center.A common species, the striped mud turtle is found in still and slow-moving bodies of water across the southeastern United States.
It is often encountered making foraging expeditions out of the water.An omnivore, the Striped Mud Turtle preys on insects, snails, and small fish, and will also eat plants and algae.the Striped Mud Turtle is an important member of its ecosystem, helping to control the population of its prey species.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more North American reptiles on this page: North American Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexWestern Box Turtle / Ornate Box TurtleOrnate Box TurtleScientific name: Terrapene ornataSuborder: Cryptodira (hidden-neck turtles)Family: EmydidaeWhere found: Midwest and Southern United States, Gulf of MexicoConservation status: Near ThreatenedThe western box turtle is one of six (or seven*) turtles of genus Terrapene, which together are known as “box turtles”.* The Yucatán box turtle may or may not be a subspecies of the common box turtle.Box turtles are terrestrial (land-dwelling) turtles that resemble tortoises.
The western box turtle is found in a region roughly west of the Mississippi and east of the Rockies, and south into northern Mexico.The species inhabits prairies, pastures and open woodlands and is often found far from a body of water.Males and females can be distinguished by their coloring; males usually have red eyes and a red or orange patch on their throats, while females have brown eyes and no throat patch.While the western box turtle is not currently endangered, its numbers are decreasing.
This is largely due to habitat loss; the grasslands in which the turtle is found are increasingly being converted to farmland.Additional threats to the western box turtle, which has a “Vulnerable” conservation status, include being injured, either by traffic or by farm machinery, and being removed from the wild to supply the pet trade.The common box turtle has two subspecies: the ornate box turtle, which is found in the Great Plains region of the United States, and the desert box turtle, which is found in the southwestern United States and in Mexico.Discover More With Active WildYou can see more North American reptiles on this page: North American Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexWestern Swamp TurtlePhoto: Bahudhara, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped / resized by ActiveWild.com)Scientific name: Pseudemydura umbrinaSuborder: Pleurodira (side-necked turtles)Family: ChelidaeWhere found: Western AustraliaConservation status: Critically EndangeredThe western swamp turtle is a critically endangered type of turtle turtle found in a limited number of fragmented locations around Perth in Western Australia.
A relatively small species, its shell is typically no more than 15.5 cm / 6.1 inches in length.
Males are slightly larger than females.The Western Swamp Turtle has experienced a significant decline in numbers in recent years, and is Australia’s most endangered reptile.
The main threat to the Turtle is habitat loss due to both agricultural and industrial development.Conservation of this species is managed under a species recovery plan that includes population management, captive breeding at Perth Zoo, and preservation of nature reserves.
(Source)Discover More With Active WildYou can see more Australian reptiles on this page: Australian Reptiles List with Pictures & FactsBack to indexRelated PagesReptiles: The Ultimate GuideTypes Of LizardsTypes Of ReptilesIs A Turtle A Reptile?