Turtle Conservation Project

Identification
Spotted Turtle range

Rarely over 4", Spotted Turtles have black shells with small yellow spots. Males have a concave plastron, tan chin and yellow eyes. Females have yellow chins and orange eyes. Males' tails are longer and thicker with the vent posterior to the carapace.

Habitats
Spotted Turtles travel between several habitats through the seasons. They are the one turtle that makes frequent use of vernal pools.

Diet
Feeding in the water, spotted turtles eat aquatic invertebrates, plants, amphibian eggs and carrion.

Behavior

Spotted Turtles are most active in cooler months, emerging from hibernation before other turtles. They travel between habitats as throughout the season. A turtle might hibernate in a tussock marsh; in spring travel to a vernal pool to feed and mate; in summer become mostly terrestrial, and in the autumn return to the marsh. In spring's vernal pools, females may be pursued by several males. Clutches are rarely more than 4 eggs, with incubation of about 70 days.

Extremely shy, Spotted Turtles are most easily observed in vernal pools and marshes before leaf-out lessens visibility.

Threats/Conservation

Because of their nomadic behavior, Spotted Turtles are more severely affected by habitat fragmentation. Many vernal pools have been lost. Because of their beauty, spotted turtles are also poached for the illegal pet trade.

For detailed information about this species, we recommend Turtles of the United States and Canada by Ernst, Lovich, Barbour.

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