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