Turtles in Your Pocket: A Guide to Freshwater and Terrestrial Turtles of the Upper Midwest (Bur Oak Guide) [1 ed.] 1609380614, 9781609380618

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Turtles

a bur oak guide

in your pocket

A Guide to Freshwater and Terrestrial Turtles of the Upper Midwest By Terry VanDeWalle Photographs by Suzanne L. Collins

Apalone spinifera

range: Eastern (A. s. spinifera): IL, IN,

IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI; Western (A. s. hartwegi): IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, SD size: Female up to 21 1/4 inches, male up to 8 1/2 inches description: Medium to large aquatic turtle with flat, round, keelless leathery olive to tan carapace and bright white plastron. Feet strongly streaked and spotted, horizontal ridge in each nostril, carapace rough and sandpaperlike with spiny projections along front edge. 2 separate, darkbordered light stripes on each side of head; short, snorkellike snout. On western subspecies, spots are only slightly enlarged near center of shell. Male much smaller; large dark spots on carapace; long, thick tail; anal opening near tip. Female much larger with circular markings on carapace that break up with age and are replaced with olive-brown or brown blotches, tail short, beneath carapace. habitat: Primarily rivers and streams, also quiet lakes and​ponds with sand and mud bars n ​ atural history: A highly aquatic turtle with the fishlike ability to extract oxygen from water through its skin, allowing it to remain underwater for long periods. Hibernates buried in soft bottom of rivers or lakes. Carnivorous, feeds primarily on earthworms, snails, aquatic insects, and fish. Nests May to mid July.

similar species:

Midland smooth softshell has smooth carapace with no spines on front edge, lacks horizontal ridge in each nostril.

Midland smooth softshell

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Spiny softshell

Apalone mutica mutica

range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI size: Female up to 14 inches, male up to 10 1/2 inches

description: Medium to large aquatic

turtle with flat, round, keelless leathery olive to orange-brown carapace and bright white plastron. Feet not strongly streaked and spotted, no horizontal ridge in each nostril, carapace smooth and lacking spiny projections along front edge. 1 dark-bordered light stripe extends through eye onto neck; short, snorkellike snout. Male smaller, carapace marked with darker dots and dashes, thick tail, anal opening near tip. Female larger; carapace mottled gray, brown, or olive; tail short, beneath carapace. habitat: Medium to large rivers and streams natural history: The most aquatic North American softshell, only leaving water to nest or bask. Like other softshells, the smooth is a sitand-wait ambush predator. Carnivorous, feeds primarily on aquatic insects but may also eat earthworms and fish. Nests May to mid July. similar species: Spiny softshell has feet strongly streaked and spotted; ridge in each nostril; rough, sandpaperlike carapace with spiny projections along front edge.

Chelydra serpentina

range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI size: Female up to

14 inches, male up to 19 inches description: Large aquatic turtle with large head; hooked beak; small plastron; long, sawtoothed tail. Carapace tan, brown, or black with 3 low keels composed of knobs that may disappear with age, serrated along back edge. Plastron small, leaving most of soft parts and legs exposed, yellowish to tan, appears cross-shaped. Legs large and powerful with webbed toes and heavy claws. Male larger, longer tail, anal opening beyond edge of carapace. Female smaller, shorter tail, anal opening beneath carapace. habitat: Any permanent body of water natural history: This large and aggressive turtle can weigh up to 35 pounds and produce a serious bite; it must be handled with care. Omnivorous, feeds on algae and other aquatic plants, aquatic insects, worms, frogs, toads, fish, and dead animals. Nests mid May to mid June. similar species: Alligator snapper has large plates on top of head and an extra row of scutes along each side of carapace. Mud and musk turtles have shorter tails, smooth carapaces, and better-developed plastrons with 1 or 2 hinges.

Alligator snapping turtle

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Common snapping turtle

Macrochelys temminckii

range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MO size: Female

up to 18 inches, male up to 31 1/2 inches

description: Large aquatic turtle with

rough, dark carapace with 3 distinct keels, strongly serrated along back edge. Extra row of scutes on each side of carapace. Plastron small, leaving most of soft parts and legs exposed, appears cross-shaped. Very large head with large plates on top, strongly hooked beak, and eyes situated so they cannot be seen from above. Tail about as long as carapace. Pink wormlike appendage on tongue. Male much larger, average 16 to 20 inches; female much smaller, average 12 to 17 inches. habitat: Deeper water of large rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, bayous natural history: The largest freshwater turtle in North America, with an average weight up to 150 pounds and a record weight in the wild of 251 pounds. The only turtle in the world with a predatory lure in its mouth—the movable pink lure attached to the tongue is used to attract prey. Carnivorous, feeds on fish, alligators, snakes, other turtles, ducks, muskrats, raccoons, and beavers. Nests late May to June. similar species: Common snapping turtle lacks large plates on top of head and extra row of scutes on each side of carapace, has low keels on carapace and eyes situated so they can be seen from above.

Chrysemys picta

range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI size: Female up to 10 inches, male up to 6 inches

description: Small to medium aquatic

turtle with smooth, oval, flattened, keelless carapace with no serration along back edge. Carapace olive to black with yellow or red borders along seams, red bars or crescents on marginal scutes, vertebral stripe absent or poorly developed. Plastron unhinged, yellow, with variably sized black or reddish blotches. Skin black to olive. Neck, legs, and tail striped with yellow or red. Upper jaw notched. Male smaller; long claws on front legs; longer, thicker tail; anal opening beyond edge of carapace. Female larger, short tail, anal opening beneath carapace. habitat: Lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, swamps, marshes, ditches natural history: Hatchlings tolerate natural freezing during hibernation, can survive temperatures as low as 15° F. Omnivorous, feeds on algae and other aquatic plants, aquatic insects, worms, leeches, frogs, salamanders, fish, and dead animals. Nests May to July. similar species: Southern painted turtle has prominent vertebral stripe. Map turtles, eastern river cooter, and red-eared slider are larger with serrated back edge of carapace and vertebral keel. Western chicken turtle has longer neck, wide stripe on front legs, and vertically striped rump.

Southern painted turtle Chrysemys dorsalis

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Northern painted turtle

range: IL, MO size: Female up to 6 inches, male up to 4 inches description: Small aquatic turtle with smooth, oval, flattened, keelless carapace with no serration along back edge. Carapace olive-brown to black with prominent yellow, orange, or red vertebral stripe. Outer edge of carapace yellow or orange. Plastron unhinged, yellow, unspotted to lightly spotted. Skin black to olive. Neck, legs, and tail striped with yellow or red. Upper jaw notched. Male smaller; long claws on front legs; longer, thicker tail; anal opening beyond edge of carapace. Female larger, short tail, anal opening beneath carapace. habitat: Lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, swamps, marshes, ditches natural history: Raccoons are a major predator of painted turtles and likely their greatest natural enemy, eating many eggs, hatchlings, and adult turtles. Omnivorous, feeds on algae and other aquatic plants, aquatic insects, worms, leeches, frogs, and salamanders and scavenges dead fish. Nests May to July. similar species: Vertebral stripe on northern painted turtle is absent or poorly developed. Map turtles, eastern river cooter, and red-eared slider are larger with serrated back edge of carapace and vertebral keel. Western chicken turtle has longer neck, wide stripe on front legs, and vertically striped rump.

Clemmys guttata

range: IL, IN, MI, OH size: Female up

to 5 1/2 inches, male up to 4 1/2 inches description: Small aquatic turtle with smooth, keelless, unserrated black carapace with 1 to several bright yellow spots on each scute. Spots may fade with age. Underside of carapace yellow. Plastron unhinged, yellow with large dark blotch on each scute that increases in size with age. Plastron may be black in older turtles. Head black, spotted. Neck, legs, and tail dark; spotted above; yellow, orange, or pink below. Male has tan chin; brown eyes; slightly concave plastron; long, thick tail. Female has yellow chin, orange eyes, flat or convex plastron, short tail. habitat: Shallow marshes, bogs, fens, wet swamps, small woodland streams natural history: The spotted pattern on this shy, attractive little turtle may provide camouflage by imitating floating duckweed. When disturbed, this turtle dives into the water and swims to the bottom, where it burrows into the muck. Omnivorous scavenger, feeds on algae, aquatic insects, crayfish, and fish. Nests May to July. similar species: Blanding’s turtle has hinged plastron and bright yellow chin and throat.

Blanding’s turtle

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Spotted turtle

Emys blandingii

range: IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, SD, WI size: Female up to 8 1/2 inches, male up to 11 inches

description: Medium to large mainly

aquatic turtle with high-domed, elongated, smooth, keelless, unserrated carapace. Carapace dark with many yellow or white spots that may run together to form streaks. Plastron yellow with large dark blotch on each scute and 1 hinge, may be entirely black in older individuals. Head dark above, spotted. Chin and throat bright yellow. Male larger, dark upper jaw, slightly concave plastron, thicker tail, anal opening beyond edge of carapace. Female smaller, yellow upper jaw, flat plastron, short tail, anal opening beneath carapace. habitat: Shallow marshes, bogs, fens, wet swamps, streams natural history: Aquatic but spends time on land, usually near water. Carnivorous, feeds on snails, crayfish, earthworms, aquatic insects, and dead fish. Nests May to early July. similar species: Box turtles have unnotched upper jaws and lack the yellow chin and throat. Spotted turtle lacks hinged plastron and bright yellow chin and throat. Wood turtle has sculptured, keeled carapace with strongly serrated back edge, plastron unhinged.

Pseudemys concinna concinna

range: IL, IN, KS, MO size: Female

up to 15 1/2 inches, male up to 12 1/2 inches description: Large aquatic turtle with green, olive, brown, or black oval, keelless carapace with intricate pattern of yellow or cream markings and slightly serrated back edge. Backward-Cshaped mark on second pleural scute. Dark spot on underside of each marginal scute. Plastron unhinged, yellow or orange. Older turtles often become dark and lose pattern on carapace. Skin olive, brown, or black with yellow or cream stripes. Wide yellow stripes on underside of neck. Central chin stripe divides to form a Y-shaped mark. Male has flattened carapace; long, thick tail; anal opening beyond edge of carapace; long, straight claws on front feet. Female has domed carapace, short tail, anal opening beneath carapace, no long claws on front feet. habitat: Large rivers with rocky bottoms, oxbows, lakes natural history: Because of their large size and their tendency to spend most of the time in water, adult cooters have few predators. Eggs and hatchlings are eaten by skunks, raccoons, and opossums. Young are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of aquatic plants and insects. Adults are primarily herbivorous, feeding mostly on plants. Nests mid May to June. similar species: Northern and southern painted turtles lack serrations along back edge of carapace and have notched upper jaws. Red-eared slider has wide red mark behind eye and vertical stripes on legs.

Red-eared slider

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Eastern river cooter

Trachemys scripta elegans

range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MO, OH size: Female up to 11 3/4 inches, male up to 9 inches description: Medium

to large aquatic turtle with olive to brown oval, weakly keeled carapace slightly serrated along back edge. Wide yellow stripe on each pleural scute. Dark spot on underside of each marginal scute. Plastron unhinged, yellow with single dark blotch on each scute. Skin olive to brown with yellow chin stripes, wide red or orange stripe on side of head behind eye, vertical stripes on legs. Older turtles often become dark and lose pattern on carapace and skin. Male has flattened carapace; long, thick tail; anal opening beyond edge of carapace; long, curved claws on front feet. Female has domed carapace; short tail; anal opening beneath carapace; short, straight claws on front feet. habitat: Quiet lakes, swamps, farm ponds, rivers, oxbows natural history: Popular turtle in the pet trade. As a result of releases, the slider is now the most widespread freshwater turtle in the world. Omnivorous—young are highly carnivorous, feeding on aquatic insects; adults are mainly herbivorous, feeding on aquatic plants, may scavenge dead fish. Nests mid May to mid July. similar species: Painted turtles lack serrations along back edge of carapace and have notched upper jaws. Eastern river cooter lacks wide red mark behind eye and has a backward-C-shaped mark on second pleural scute. Western chicken turtle has an extremely long neck and a broad yellow stripe on each front leg.

Glyptemys insculpta

range: IA, MI, MN, WI size: Female

up to 8 inches, male up to 9 inches description: Medium semi-aquatic turtle with highly sculptured, keeled tan to brown carapace with strongly serrated back edge and black or yellow lines radiating from corner of some scutes. Each scute on carapace has an irregular pyramid resulting from raised growth rings. Plastron unhinged, yellow, dark blotch on each scute. Head black, speckled, may have faint yellow spots. Throat, neck, tail, and underside of front legs yellow, orange, or red. Male has concave plastron; long, thick tail; anal opening beyond edge of carapace; prominent scales on front legs; throat, neck, and front legs bright orange or red. Female has flat plastron; short tail; anal opening beneath carapace; throat, neck, and front legs yellow. habitat: Rivers, streams, bogs, wet meadows, pastures, deciduous woodlands natural history: Although aquatic, spends a fair amount of time on land, usually not far from water. Omnivorous, feeds on mushrooms, various plants and fruits, insects, and earthworms. Sometimes uses worm stomping to catch earthworms—stomping its front feet causes earthworms to come to the surface, where they are eaten. Nests May to July. similar species: Spotted turtle has keelless, unserrated black, yellow-spotted carapace. Box turtles and Blanding’s turtle have hinged plastrons. Only the wood turtle has a highly sculptured carapace.

Western chicken turtle

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Wood turtle

Deirochelys reticularia miaria

range: MO size: Female up to 10 inches, male up to 6 1/2 inches description: Small to medium semi-aquatic

turtle with long, narrow, unkeeled, unserrated tan to olive carapace with netlike pattern of yellow lines. Extremely long neck. Vertebral scutes very broad, first vertebral scute touches 4 marginal scutes. Plastron unhinged, yellow with dark markings along seams. Skin olive to brown with yellow or white stripes. Front legs with wide yellow stripe, rump with vertical light stripes. Chin and throat yellow, unstreaked. Male smaller; long, thick tail; anal opening beyond edge of carapace. Female larger, short tail, anal opening beneath carapace. habitat: Swamps, river sloughs, oxbows, drainage ditches natural history: Semi-aquatic, spends nearly as much time on land as in water. During times of drought, may burrow underground for long periods to escape dry conditions. Carnivorous, feeds primarily on snails, aquatic insects, and crayfish. Nests mid February to May and August to November. similar species: Redeared slider, painted turtles, eastern river cooter, and map turtles have shorter necks and do not have the first vertebral scute in contact with 4 marginal scutes. Slider, river cooter, and map turtles have serrated back edge of carapace.

Graptemys geographica

range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI size: Female up to 10 3/4

inches, male up to 6 inches description: Small to large aquatic turtle with olive to light brown carapace with network of yellow lines that resemble topographic map, dark blotches on marginal scutes, serrated along back edge, low dark brown vertebral keel with knobs. Plastron unhinged, cream to yellow. Skin olive to brown or black with yellow stripes. Triangular yellow mark behind eye not connected to head stripes. Male smaller; oval carapace; long, thick tail; anal opening beyond edge of carapace. Female larger, rounded carapace, broad head, short tail, anal opening beneath carapace. habitat: Large rivers, lakes, backwaters natural history: A shy turtle that will dive into water at the slightest disturbance, often seen basking on logs, sometimes in large numbers with smaller turtles on the backs of larger ones. Carnivorous, feeds primarily on snails but may also eat worms, crayfish, aquatic insects, and some aquatic plants and may scavenge dead fish. Nests May to mid July. similar species: Other map turtles have well-developed vertebral keels and knobs. False map turtle has narrow, backward-L-shaped mark behind eye. Ouachita map turtle has large yellow mark behind eye and prominent spots on each side of face below eyes and on lower jaw.

False map turtle

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Common map turtle

Graptemys pseudogeographica

range: False map (G. p. pseudogeo-

graphica): IL, IN, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI; Mississippi map (G. p. kohnii): IL, IN, KS, MO size: Female up to 10 3/4 inches, male up to 6 inches description: Small to large aquatic turtle with olive to brown carapace with yellow oval markings and dark blotches, serrated along back edge, vertebral keel with low knobs. Plastron unhinged, cream to yellow. Skin olive to brown with many yellow stripes on legs, chin, tail, and neck. Yellow mark behind eye forms backward L. Subspecies can be distinguished by mark behind eye: on false map, mark allows 4 to 7 neck stripes to reach eye; on Mississippi map, long mark prevents any neck stripe from reaching eye. Male smaller; long, thick tail; anal opening beyond edge of carapace; elongated toes on front feet. Female larger, broad head, short tail, anal opening beneath carapace. habitat: Large rivers, lakes, oxbows, backwaters natural history: Females may lay up to 4 clutches per year. Omnivorous, feeds on aquatic plants and animals (snails and aquatic insects), may also eat crayfish, earthworms, and dead fish. Nests mid May to July. similar species: Ouachita map turtle has large yellow mark behind eye and prominent spots on each side of face below eye and on lower jaw. Common map turtle has triangular yellow mark behind eye not connected to head stripes and a low, spineless vertebral keel.

Graptemys ouachitensis ouachitensis

range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MN, MO, OH, WI size: Female up to 9 1/2 inches, male up to 5 1/2 inches description: Small

to large aquatic turtle with olive to brown carapace with yellow markings and dark blotches, serrated along back edge, distinct vertebral keel with low knobs. Plastron unhinged, cream to yellow with dark lines on seams. Skin olive to brown with many yellow stripes on legs, chin, tail, and neck. Large yellow square, rectangular, or oval mark behind eye, allowing 1 to 9 neck stripes to reach eye. 2 large spots on each side of face, one below eye, one on lower jaw. Male smaller; long, thick tail; anal opening beyond edge of carapace; elongated toes on front feet. Female larger, broad head, short tail, anal opening beneath carapace. habitat: Rivers with swift currents and sand or gravel bottoms natural history: Its narrower head prevents this species from feeding on mollusks and reduces competition with the common map turtle. Omnivorous, feeds on aquatic insects and some aquatic plants and may scavenge dead fish. Nests mid May to July. similar species: False map turtle has narrow, backward-L-shaped mark behind eye. Common map turtle has triangular yellow mark behind eye not connected to head stripes and a low, spineless vertebral keel.

Common musk turtle

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Ouachita map turtle

Sternotherus odoratus

range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MO, OH, WI size: Female up to 6 inches, male up to 5 1/2 inches description: Small

aquatic turtle with narrow, high-domed light brown to black unpatterned carapace not serrated along back edge. Young have prominent vertebral keel; carapace of adults is unkeeled. Plastron yellow to brown with 1 poorly developed hinge, 11 plastral scutes, skin showing between scutes. Skin gray to black with 2 yellow or white stripes on each side of head and neck beginning at snout and passing above and below eye. Barbels—small projections of skin—on chin and throat. Male has longer, thicker tail ending in blunt nail; more exposed skin on plastron; 2 small patches of rough scales on inside of each hind leg. Female has shorter tail, no rough scales on inside of hind legs. habitat: Lakes, ponds, swamps, streams, rivers with mud bottoms natural history: When handled, may bite, scratch, and release a musky-smelling substance from 2 glands on each side of body. The foul odor has resulted in common names such as stinkpot and stinking Jim and the species name odoratus. Omnivorous, feeds on aquatic plants and insects, mollusks, and worms. Nests May to July. similar species: Mud turtles have large plastrons with 2 well-developed hinges.

Terrapene carolina

range: Eastern box (T. c. carolina): IL,

IN, MI, OH; Three-toed box (T. c. triunguis): KS, MO size: Female up to 7 3/4 inches, male up to 9 1/2 inches description: Small to medium terrestrial turtle with rounded, high-domed carapace with keel on vertebral scutes 2 to 4, not serrated along back edge. Carapace brownish with variable pattern of yellow or orange radiating lines, spots, bars, or blotches. Plastron tan to dark brown, patternless or with dark blotches or faint radiating light lines with 1 well-developed hinge that forms 2 movable lobes allowing shell to close completely. Skin black to reddish brown with yellow, red, or orange spots and lines. Upper jaw hooked, usually lacks notch. Eastern subspecies: carapace brightly patterned, 4 toes on each hind foot. Three-toed subspecies: carapace with obscure pattern of radiating dashes, 3 toes on each hind foot. Male has longer, broader carapace; red eyes; concave plastron. Female has shorter, more domed carapace; brown eyes; flat plastron. habitat: Open woodlands, pastures, wet meadows natural history: When threatened, defends itself by pulling inside its shell and closing it completely. Hibernates on land in loose soil or sand or underwater buried in mud at the bottom of a pond or stream. Omnivorous, feeds on roots and stems of plants, berries, fungi, earthworms, insects, and snails. Nests May to June. similar species: Ornate box turtle lacks vertebral keel, plastron has conspicuous pattern of yellow radiating lines, usually 4 toes on each hind foot. Blanding’s turtle has notched upper jaw and bright yellow chin and throat. Mud turtles have 2 well-developed hinges on plastron.

Ornate box turtle

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Eastern box turtle

Terrapene ornata ornata

range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MO, NE, SD, WI size: Female up to 6 inches, male up to 5 inches description: Small terrestrial

turtle with round to oval, high-domed, keelless carapace not serrated along back edge. Carapace dark brown to reddish brown with yellow radiating lines on each scute, often with yellow vertebral stripe. Plastron has pattern of yellow radiating lines on each scute and 1 welldeveloped hinge that forms 2 movable lobes allowing shell to close completely. Skin dark brown with yellow spotting, chin yellow. Upper jaw hooked, unnotched. 4 toes on each hind foot. Male smaller, red eyes, concave plastron. Female larger, yellowish brown eyes, flat plastron. habitat: Prairies, grasslands, old fields with sandy soil natural history: Well adapted to living in dry environments, this turtle extended its range into the prairie areas of the eastern U.S. during the last ice age. Primarily carnivorous, feeds on insects, earthworms, snails, and tadpoles but will also eat berries when available. Nests mid May to June. similar species: Eastern box turtle has keel on vertebral scutes 2 to 4, often only 3 toes on each hind foot. Blanding’s turtle has notched upper jaw and bright yellow chin and throat. Mud turtles have 2 well-developed hinges on plastron.

Kinosternon flavescens

range: IL, IA, KS, MO, NE size: Female

up to 5 inches, male up to 6 1/2 inches description: Small aquatic turtle with broad, smooth olive to brown keelless, unserrated carapace. Ninth marginal scute enlarged and higher than eighth. Plastron yellow to brown with dark seams, 2 well-developed hinges, 11 plastral scutes. Skin yellow to gray. Head flattened with whitish to yellow hooked jaws. Male larger; concave plastron; long, thick tail ending in blunt nail; 2 small patches of rough scales on inside of each hind leg. Female smaller; short, spineless tail; no rough scales on inside of hind legs. habitat: Temporary or permanent ponds and backwaters of rivers in sand prairies and deep sand soils natural history: Buries itself in the sand, sometimes for months, to survive dry periods. To avoid dehydration while buried, the thickness of its skin increases; when the turtle returns to water, it sheds this layer of thick skin. Omnivorous, feeds on aquatic plants and insects, mollusks, leeches, worms, and tadpoles. Nests May to June. similar species: Common musk turtle and eastern mud turtle lack enlarged ninth marginal scute. Common musk turtle has 2 yellow or white lines on side of head, 1 poorly developed hinge on plastron.

Eastern mud turtle

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Yellow mud turtle

Kinosternon subrubrum

range: Eastern mud (K. s. subrubrum):

IL, IN; Mississippi mud (K. s. hippocrepis): IL, MO size: Female up to 5 inches, male up to 4 1/4 inches description: Small semi-aquatic turtle with smooth olive or yellow to black keelless, unserrated carapace that is patternless with straight sides and drops off sharply at back. Ninth marginal scute not enlarged. Plastron yellow to brown with 11 plastral scutes and 2 well-developed hinges. Skin brown to olive. Eastern subspecies: head spotted or mottled. Mississippi subspecies: 2 distinct light stripes on each side of head. Male has slightly broader head; long, thick tail ending in blunt nail; 2 small patches of rough scales on inside of hind legs; shorter plastron. Female has narrower head; short, spineless tail; no rough scales on inside of hind legs. habitat: Slow-moving bodies of water, wetlands, backwaters, oxbows, also wanders over land natural history: Semi-aquatic, spending much of its time on land. Hibernates underwater buried in mud or in burrows it digs on land, sometimes well away from water. Omnivorous, feeds on mollusks, crustaceans, aquatic insects, and plants. Nests May to June. similar species: Yellow mud turtle has enlarged ninth marginal scute. Common musk turtle has 1 poorly developed hinge on plastron.

hatchling turtles Most turtles in the Upper Midwest lay their eggs from May to mid July, and many species lay more than one clutch per year. The number of eggs varies from species to species but can range from 1 to more than 60. Most eggs hatch in August or September. The hatchlings of some species, such as map turtles and softshells, dig out of the nest and make their way to water. Hatchlings of other species, such as painted turtles, remain in the nest until the following spring, when they dig out. Compared to adults, hatchling turtles are very small, typically having a carapace 1 to 1 3/4 inches long. The following information will help you identify hatchlings of turtles described in this guide. ➔

Spiny softshell: Small circular spots on carapace Midland smooth softshell: Faint dots and dashes on carapace

Common snapping turtle: Shell rough, light spots on edge, long tail ➔

   Alligator snapping turtle: Shell very rough, strongly hooked beak,    long tail

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➔ Northern painted turtle: Faint markings on carapace, plastron with or          without large dark blotch

Southern painted turtle: Yellow, orange, or red vertebral stripe Spotted turtle: 1 spot on each carapace scute, spots on head Blanding’s turtle: Chin yellow, light marks on head, long tail

Wood turtle: Shell rough, unmarked dark head and legs, long tail Western chicken turtle: Network of lines on carapace, striped hind legs, dark seams on plastron ➔

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     Eastern river cooter: Keeled green carapace with bright markings,     C-shaped mark develops at 2 weeks

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Red-eared slider: Red stripe behind eye, large circular blotches on plastron

Common map turtle: Yellow spot behind eye, maplike pattern on carapace, dark seams on plastron False map turtle: Vertebral keel with black knobs, plastron with well-developed pattern Ouachita map turtle: Rectangular spot behind eye, pair of spots on jaw, vertebral keel with black knobs Common musk turtle: 2 lines on head, light spots on marginal scutes, vertebral keel with 2 adjacent keels

Eastern box turtle: Carapace light brown with light spot on each scute Ornate box turtle: Carapace brown to black with yellow spots and vertebral stripe ➔

Yellow mud turtle: Black dot along back edge of carapace scutes, eighth and ninth marginal scutes same height, ninth distinctly peaked

Eastern mud turtle: Carapace black, light spots along marginal scutes, plastron mottled with orange or red

This key to adult turtles is organized into a series of numbered paired choices. Beginning with number 1, for each pair, choose the description that best fits the animal you wish to identify. Move to the next numbered pair indicated at the end of the description. Continue until you reach a description that ends in the name of the animal. 1a Shell soft, covered with leathery skin: 2 1b Shell hard, covered with large scutes: 3 2a 2b

Spiny projections on front edge of carapace, horizontal ridge in each nostril: spiny softshell Front edge of carapace smooth, no horizontal ridge in each nostril: midland smooth softshell

3a Plastron with fewer than 11 scutes, tail long, more than half length of shell: 4 3b Plastron with 11 or more scutes, tail short, less than half length of shell: 5 4a 4b

Top of head without large plates, single row of marginal scutes: common snapping turtle Large plates on top of head, extra row of scutes above marginals: alligator snapping turtle

5a 5b 6a 6b

Carapace with 11 pairs of marginal scutes, smooth, dome-shaped, back edge not serrated: 6 Carapace with 12 pairs of marginal scutes, smooth or with vertebral keel, serrated or unserrated: 8 Plastron with 1 poorly developed hinge, skin showing between scutes, 2 distinct lines on side of head: common musk turtle Plastron with 2 well-developed hinges, no skin showing between scutes, tail with clawlike tip: 7

7a Eighth and ninth marginal scutes of equal height: eastern mud turtle 7b Ninth marginal scute much higher than eighth: yellow mud turtle 8a Plastron hinged: 9 8b Plastron not hinged: 11 9a Chin and throat bright yellow, upper jaw notched: Blanding’s turtle 9b Chin and throat not bright yellow, upper jaw not notched: 10 10a 10b

Carapace and plastron with radiating yellow lines, carapace not keeled, 4 toes on each hind foot: ornate box turtle Carapace pattern variable, carapace keeled, 3 or 4 toes on each hind foot: eastern box turtle

11a 11b

Neck extremely long, first vertebral scute touches 4 marginal scutes, stripe on front leg very wide: western chicken turtle Neck short, first vertebral scute touches fewer than 4 marginal scutes, stripe on front leg narrow if present: 12

12a Upper jaw with prominent notch: 13 12b Upper jaw without prominent notch: 16 13a Carapace without keel, back edge not serrated: 14 13b Carapace with or without keel, back edge serrated: 15

14a 14b

Red bars or crescents on marginal scutes, vertebral stripe absent or poorly developed: northern painted turtle Outer edge of carapace yellow or orange, prominent vertebral stripe: southern painted turtle

15a 15b

Prominent red or orange stripe behind eye, plastron with single dark blotch on each scute: red-eared slider All head stripes yellow, backward-C-shaped mark on second pleural scute, plastron with little or no pattern: eastern river cooter

16a 16b

Carapace with raised growth rings on each scute, plastron yellow with dark blotch on each scute: wood turtle Carapace without raised growth rings on each scute, plastron not yellow with dark blotches: 17

17a Carapace unkeeled, black with bright yellow spots: spotted turtle 17b Carapace keeled, color variable without bright yellow spots: 18 18a 18b

Triangular yellow mark behind eye not connected to head stripes; low, spineless vertebral keel: common map turtle Yellow mark behind eye connected to head stripes, vertebral keel topped with low black knobs: 19

19a 19b

Large yellow square, rectangular, or oval mark behind eye, large spot under eye and on lower jaw: Ouachita map turtle Narrow, backward-L-shaped mark behind eye, no spots on lower jaw: false map turtle

carapace (upper shell) serrated back edge

vertebral keel

2

1

1 2

marginal scutes pleural scutes

vertebral scutes

hinge plastral scutes

unserrated back edge of carapace

plastron (lower shell)

marginal scutes

Turtles in Your Pocket From the spiny softshell, a sit-and-wait ambush predator, to the hefty alligator snapping turtle, the only turtle in the world with a predatory lure in its mouth, to the yellow mud turtle, which survives dry periods by burying itself in the sand for months at a time, the slow-but-sure turtle of Aesop’s fable is an intriguing reptile that can be easily seen and identified. This colorful laminated guide informs both amateur and professional herpetologists about all twenty species of turtles to be found in the Upper Midwest states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, South Dakota, North Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri.

Terry VanDeWalle provides a complete description of each species, both male and female, as well as distinguishing characteristics for eight subspecies. Information about range and habitat preferences—marshes, large rivers with rocky or mud bottoms, quiet lakes, farm ponds, sand prairies, and so on—is followed by natural history notes about behavior, hibernation, diet, and nesting. Most helpful for identifying species in the field are his comparisons of similar species and his comprehensive key. Two panels devoted to hatchlings provide short descriptions of the young of each species as well as photographs of some commonly seen young turtles.   Superb photographs by Suzanne Collins make this guide the perfect companion for hiking and fishing expeditions in all kinds of environments, whenever a turtle plops off a log into the water or lumbers across your path on the trail. $9.95

Copyright © 2011 by the University of Iowa Press Printed in the U.S.A. www.uiowapress.org Manufactured by ProGuidez, Inc. Licensed under U.S. Patent N429 and 6,063,227; Mexican Model Reg. No. 10,020; Canadian Industrial Design Reg. No. 76,725