Painted Turtles

Eastern Painted Turtle
Scientific Name: Chrysemys picta picta

Midland Painted Turtle
Scientific Name: Chrysemys picta marginata
Size: 4.5-8 inches (10-18 cm) in length
PA Status: Abundant

Habitat Type:
Most all aquatic habitats (except swift streams and standing water with no vegetation) - Slow-moving streams and ditches, small ponds, marshes, small lakes and rivers. Primarily seen basking on logs, stumps and rocks.

Colorations:
Adults:

  • The carapace is dark olive-green to black.
  • The margins of the carapacial scutes are bordered by a thin margin of lighter olive-green.
  • The dorsal surface of the marginals are marked with red lines in the form of semicircles, curlicues, bars or crescents; and the underside of the marginals is marked with red bars.
  • The plastron is beige to yellow with a variable sized dark central blotch.
  • The skin of the legs and tail are black with a pattern of narrow yellow and/or red stripes.
  • The head has a yellow stripe extending rearward and may meet a similar stripe from the lower jaw; On each side of the head behind the eyes is a large, yellow dorsolateral spot
    and a yellow streak.
  • The chin is marked with two wide yellow stripes that connect at the lower jaw to
    enclose a narrow yellow stripe.
  • The upper jaw has red markings.

Characteristics:

  • Small aquatic species.
  • Profile View- The carapace is keel-less and low
  • Above View - The carapace is elongate with slightly flaring, unserrated posterior marginals.
  • The plastron is large and connects to the carapace by a broad bridge.
  • The head is small and the neck is short.
  • The tail is short.
  • The legs are small and thin.
  • The hind feet are broad and fully webbed.

Juvenile coloration and characteristics:

  • The shell is more circular in outline with a slight center keel.
  • The margins of the scutes are not set off by a thin olive line.
  • The tail is very long.

Distinction between subspecies:

  • Eastern - The vertebral and pleural carapacial seams align; Light border along the carapacial seams and an unmarked yellow plastron;
    The middorsal stripe is narrow or may be absent.
  • Midland - The vertebral and pleual carapacial seams are alternating;
    A dark border along the carapacial seams and a variable dark blotch on the
    plastron; The middorsal stripe is usually absent.

Confused with:

  • Redbelly Turtle

Coloration/Pattern Photos:
Eastern Adults
Eastern Painted Turtle - By: Bob Hamilton Eastern Painted Turtle - By: Bob Hamilton Eastern Painted Turtle - By: Bob Hamilton
Eastern Painted Turtle - By: Bob Hamilton Painted Turtle - By:Brandon Curtis

Eastern Juveniles
Eastern Painted Turtle - By: Bob Hamilton Eastern Painted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler

Midland Adults
Midland Painted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler Midland Painted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler Midland Painted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler
Midland Painted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler Midland Painted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler

Midland Juveniles
Midland Painted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler Midland Painted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler Midland Painted Turtle - By: Rex Everett

Range Map:
Painted Turtles Range Map

References:

  • Hulse, C. and McCoy C. J. and Ellen Censky ,1998. Amphibians and Reptiles of Pennsylvania and the Northeast. 201-206pp.
  • Ernst, Carl H. and Lovich, Jeffrey E., and Barbour, Roger W. ,1994. Turtles of the United States and Canada. 276-296pp.

Photo Credits:

  • Bob Hamilton
  • Wayne Fidler
  • Rex Everett
  • Brandon Curtis