| Turtle Species | | | | spots on the scutes. Its species name is |
| | | | Emydoidea blandingii. Sometimes this turtle |
| Turtles are cold-blooded reptiles. They have | | | | is confused with the box turtle because of |
| a shell making them unique from other | | | | similar appearances. |
| reptiles. Their upper shell is called the | | | | |
| carapace, and a lower shell that protects the | | | | This turtle lives in clean, shallow water |
| belly called the plastron. The carapace and | | | | habitats. They like abundant aquatic |
| plastron shape and color varies from species | | | | vegetation, and firm aquatic bottoms in |
| to species. One might think it would at least | | | | ponds, lakes, marshes, and creeks. However, |
| always be a hard shell, which also is untrue. | | | | preferences in habitat can change seasonally |
| There are softshell turtle species, along | | | | and by location. In Wisconsin, the Blanding's |
| with many others. | | | | turtle prefers marshes over ponds, which is |
| | | | just a location preference. Turtles elsewhere |
| Some turtle species include Clemmys insculpta | | | | may choose a pond over a marsh. |
| which is the wood turtle; Geochelone sulcata | | | | |
| which is the African Spurred tortoise; | | | | This turtle nests once a year usually from |
| Chelonia mydas which is the green turtle; | | | | late-May to early July during the night. |
| Emydoidea blandingii which is the Blanding's | | | | However, not every female nests every year. |
| turtle; Clemmys guttata which is the spotted | | | | |
| turtle; Malaclemys terrapin which is the | | | | The common name for Clemmys guttata is the |
| diamondback terrapin; and Trachemys s. | | | | spotted turtle. This is a small, black turtle |
| elegans which is the red-eared slider. | | | | that has a pattern on its smooth carapace |
| | | | with small yellow spots. Over time the spots |
| The species name for the wood turtle is | | | | may fade, making older turtles appear |
| Clemmys insculpta. This turtle is the largest | | | | spotless. |
| in its genus. The carapace has raised | | | | |
| projections on the back that resemble a small | | | | Male spotted turtles tend to have tan chins |
| pyramid, making it different from others in | | | | with brown eyes differing from the females |
| the Clemmys genus. | | | | who tend to have yellow chins and orange |
| | | | eyes. |
| The wood turtle is omnivorous and eats things | | | | |
| like algae, moss, blueberries, mollusks, | | | | These turtles live in areas that are shallow |
| insects, earthworms, and mice. Typically | | | | wetlands. This can consist of swamps, bogs, |
| adult males are larger than adult females, | | | | fens, and marshes, but not confined to just |
| but not by a whole lot. | | | | these areas. |
| | | | |
| The species name for the African Spurred | | | | Spotted turtles are active during they day |
| tortoise is Geochelone sulcata. The African | | | | for the most part, meaning they are diurnal. |
| Spurred Tortoise is the only tortoise in the | | | | However, females are active at night while |
| world that has adapted fully for terrestrial | | | | they are nesting. |
| life. The turtle is famous for digging | | | | |
| burrows to protect itself from predators and | | | | Spotted turtles are preyed upon by bald |
| the temperature. This turtle can go weeks | | | | eagles, skunks, and raccoons. |
| without food or water. When the turtle does | | | | |
| get a chance to drink water though, it can | | | | The species name for the Diamondback Terrapin |
| drink up to 15% of its body weight. The | | | | is Malaclemys terrapin. This turtle is a |
| species name for the green turtle is Chelonia | | | | small to medium size turtle which feeds on |
| mydas. Adult green turtles have a different | | | | sponges, bryozoans, gastropods, crabs, |
| diet than juvenile green turtles. Adults are | | | | carrion, and plant material. |
| herbivores eating plants and juveniles are | | | | |
| carnivores eating meat. Adults usually spend | | | | They have a hingeless plastron which can be |
| their time in patches of sea grass and algae | | | | yellow to green or black, and an oblong |
| to get their food, while juveniles spend | | | | carapace is gray, light brown or black. They |
| their time among the coral reef. Adults | | | | can be found in estuaries and salt marshes. |
| preferred food is young leaves and roots of | | | | |
| sea vegetation. Juveniles eat animals such as | | | | Nesting for these turtles is different from a |
| jellyfish, sponges, snails, bivalves, and | | | | majority of turtles because it is during the |
| others. | | | | day. Most turtles tend to nest during the |
| | | | night. High tide is the most usual time for |
| This turtle is a medium to large sea turtle | | | | this particular turtle to nest. |
| that has a broad, low, heart-shaped carapace. | | | | |
| | | | The red-eared slider is native to the United |
| Most of their lives are spent in the water | | | | States. It is commonly found in the Southern |
| but females return to the land to lay their | | | | regions. The species name for it is Trachemys |
| eggs. The eggs take about two months to | | | | s. elegans. |
| incubate, and then hatch. As most turtles | | | | |
| are, green turtles possess environmental sex | | | | When the red-eared slider is young it is |
| determination. Temperature of the nest | | | | carnivorous, but as it ages they become more |
| determines the sex of the hatchling. Warmer | | | | vegetarian. They are a medium size and have a |
| temperatures produce females, and cooler | | | | dark green oval shell. Their legs are green |
| temperatures produce males. | | | | with think yellow stripes. The head is also |
| | | | green, but it has a red stripe behind the |
| Green turtles are found throughout the oceans | | | | eye. |
| of the world. Populations are endangered or | | | | |
| threatened everywhere. | | | | These turtles are found in most permanent |
| | | | slow-moving bodies of water. They prefer |
| The Blanding's turtle is a northern turtle | | | | areas with mud bottoms. |
| that has a black carapace with tan to yellow | | | | |