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Think of a turtle - any turtle. Was it the western chicken turtle? How about the smooth softshell turtle? Probably not! We at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service want to tell you about 10 lesser-known turtles. These turtles may not be as widely recognized as the painted turtle, common snapping turtle or red-eared slider, but they each play important ecological roles.
Each of these turtles has carved out a life in rivers, marshes, oxbows and ephemeral pools - survivors of ice ages and industrial ages alike. Their lives are shaped by the rhythms of flood and drought, the patience of hibernation and the threats of shrinking habitats. This is their story: a quiet unfolding tale of survival, camouflage and extraordinary adaptation.
Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)
The alligator snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in North America. It is known for its powerful jaws, spiked shell and worm-like tongue used to lure prey. These turtles primarily inhabit the deep, slow-moving waters of large rivers in the Mississippi River Basin of the southeastern United States. Alligator snapping turtles may live more than 70 years and don鈥檛 reproduce until they鈥檙e more than 11 years old. Females lay 10 to 50 eggs in late spring to early summer that hatch after 100 to 140 days. Threats to alligator snapping turtles include overharvesting, especially in the past for meat, as well as road mortality and habitat loss and degradation from dams, pollution and channelization.
Watch for alligator snapping turtles in Alabama, Arkansas, northern Florida, southwestern Georgia, western Illinois, southwestern Indiana, southeastern Kansas, western Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, southeastern Missouri, eastern Oklahoma, western Tennessee and eastern Texas.
Blanding鈥檚 turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)
The Blanding鈥檚 turtle is a medium-sized freshwater turtle known for its high-domed shell and bright yellow throat and chin. These turtles inhabit shallow wetlands with clean, slow-moving waters and abundant vegetation. Blanding's turtles can live up to 70 years and don鈥檛 tend to reproduce until they鈥檙e more than 20 years old. Females lay six to 25 eggs in late spring to early summer that hatch after 65 to 90 days. Compared to other aquatic turtles, the Blanding's turtle is known to travel long distances - often more than a mile - in search of suitable ephemeral pool habitats for breeding and feeding. Because of their movement patterns, Blanding's turtles require larger landscapes than many other turtle species, making them especially vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and degradation. Moving across the landscape means these turtles are forced to cross busy roads, where they risk deadly encounters with cars. Like many turtle species, Blanding鈥檚 turtles are also threatened by illegal collection.
Watch for Blanding鈥檚 turtles in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii)
The bog turtle is the smallest turtle in North America, measuring no more than 4.5 inches long. It is known for its bright orange cheek patches and tiny size. These turtles inhabit spring-fed wetlands, wet meadows and sphagnum bogs - habitats that are increasingly fragmented. Bog turtles may live more than 60 years and don鈥檛 reproduce until they鈥檙e at least 8 years old. Females lay only one to six eggs in late spring to early summer that hatch after 45 to 65 days. The bog turtle was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1997 due to a variety of factors. Land-use changes, including residential and commercial development, have caused degradation and fragmentation of their wetland habitat. Like many other turtle species, bog turtles are also at risk from illegal collection.
There is a 250-mile gap in the bog turtle range, effectively causing a separation between a northern and southern population. Watch for bog turtles in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus)
The musk turtle is a small freshwater turtle measuring just 3 to 5 inches long. It is known for its ability to release a foul musky odor from scent glands on the edge of its shell, earning the nickname stinkpot. These turtles inhabit slow-moving or still wetlands, ponds and streams and can tolerate low-oxygen waters better than many other turtles. Musk turtles may live more than 50 years and don鈥檛 reproduce until they鈥檙e at least 5 years old. Females lay just one to seven eggs in late spring or early summer that hatch after 60 to 90 days. Threats to musk turtles include habitat loss and degradation, as well as pollution, road mortality and illegal collection. While these turtles are generally considered widespread with stable populations, they鈥檙e primarily active at night, making them difficult to see.
Watch for musk turtles in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Northern map turtle (Graptemys geographica)
The northern map turtle is a medium-sized freshwater turtle. It is known for the map-like lines and prominent ridge on its shell, along with distinctive yellow or cream-coloring behind the eyes. These turtles inhabit slow-moving rivers, streams, lakes and ponds with abundant aquatic vegetation. Northern map turtles may live 20 to 30 years. Males don鈥檛 reproduce until they鈥檙e 3 to 5 years old, while females wait until they鈥檙e 8 to 13 years old. Females lay six to 20 eggs in late spring or early summer that hatch after 60 to 90 days. Threats to northern map turtles include habitat loss and degradation, as well as illegal collection.
Watch for northern map turtles in northern Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, eastern Iowa, northern Georgia, eastern Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, eastern Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, northeastern Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Ouachita map turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis)
The Ouachita map turtle is a medium-sized freshwater turtle named after the Ouachita River in Arkansas. It is known for its contour-like shell markings and prominent ridge. It has distinctive yellow spots behind the eyes. These turtles inhabit large rivers, streams and oxbows with moderate to fast-flowing waters. Ouachita map turtles may live more than 35 years. Males don鈥檛 reproduce until they鈥檙e at least 2 years old, while females wait until they鈥檙e at least 6 years old. Females lay six to 15 eggs in late spring to early summer that hatch after 60 to 80 days. Threats to Ouachita map turtles include habitat loss and degradation, as well as water level fluctuations and road mortality.
Watch for Ouachita map turtles in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, southeastern Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, southeastern Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and western Wisconsin.
Smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica)
The smooth softshell turtle is a medium-sized freshwater turtle known for its flat, leathery shell and long, snorkel-like nose. These turtles inhabit large rivers and streams with sandy or muddy bottoms where they can bury themselves completely in sand, leaving only their nose exposed. Smooth softshell turtles may live 20 to 30 years. Males don鈥檛 reproduce until they鈥檙e at least 4 years old, while females wait until they鈥檙e at least 9 years old. Females lay four to 33 eggs in late spring to early summer that hatch after 60 to 90 days. Threats to smooth softshell turtles include habitat loss and degradation, as well as pollution and road mortality.
Watch for smooth softshell turtles in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata)
The spotted turtle is a small freshwater turtle known for its smooth, black shell dotted with bright yellow spots. These turtles inhabit shallow wetlands with slow-moving waters and abundant vegetation. Spotted turtles can live up to 50 years and don鈥檛 reproduce until they鈥檙e more than 7 years old. Females lay two to eight eggs in spring that hatch after 40 to 80 days. Because they mature late and lay relatively few eggs, spotted turtle populations are especially vulnerable to habitat loss, road mortality and illegal collection.
Watch for spotted turtles in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.
Western chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia miaria)
The western chicken turtle is a medium-sized freshwater turtle known for its very long neck and oval shell with a net-like pattern. These turtles inhabit shallow, temporary wetlands including seasonal ponds and marshes in the south-central United States. Western chicken turtles can live up to 40 years and don鈥檛 reproduce until they鈥檙e more than 6 years old. The western chicken turtle is the smallest and rarest of the three chicken turtle species. It is one of the few turtles in the United States known to nest in both the fall and spring, an adaptation that aligns with the seasonal nature of its wetland habitats. These turtles may even go dormant during dry periods. Because they require both wetland and upland habitats, western chicken turtles are highly sensitive to habitat fragmentation. Populations are also declining due to wetland drainage and road mortality.
Watch for western chicken turtles in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
Wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta)
The wood turtle is a medium-sized semi-terrestrial turtle known for its sculpted, ridged shell and orange to red neck, chin and legs. The shell has pyramid-like scutes with growth rings, giving it a carved, wood-grain appearance. These turtles inhabit areas with clear, flowing streams along forests and open uplands. Wood turtles can live up to 60 years and don鈥檛 reproduce until they鈥檙e more than 14 years old. Females lay eggs in late spring to early summer that hatch after 70 to 90 days. Threats to wood turtles include habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as road mortality and illegal collection.
Watch for wood turtles in Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
