Spotted Turtle

Scientific Name: Clemmys guttata
Size: 3.5-4.5 inches (9-11.5 cm) in length
PA Status: Species of special concern

Habitat Type:
Marshes, wet meadows, swamps, bogs, and shallow borders of ponds, lakes and streams.

Colorations:

  • The carapace background color is jet black with a series of random small bright yellow spots.
  • The plastron and ventral surface of the marginals background color is yellow with large black squarelike blotches that cover the entire plastron; with age the plastron may become black.
  • The skin of the head, neck, legs, and tail are black above and are orange, pink to salmon red ventrally.
  • The head and neck have a series of yellow spots.
  • The jaws are yellowish brown.

Characteristics:

  • Small aquatic species.
  • Profile View - The carapace is low.
  • Above View - The carapace is oblong or oval in outline.
  • The carapace surface and margins are smooth.
  • The plastron is very large and the bridge is wide.
  • The legs and feet are narrow and the feet have no webbing.
  • The head and neck are small.
  • The upper jaw is notched.

Juvenile coloration and characteristics:

  • The plastral scutes contain black squareish patches.

Confused with:

  • Bog Turtle

Coloration/Pattern Photos:
Adults
Spotted Turtle - By: Tim Maret Spotted Turtle - By: Tim Maret Spotted Turtle - By: Tim Maret
Spotted Turtle - By: Bob Hamilton Spotted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler Spotted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler
Spotted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler Spotted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler Spotted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler
Spotted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler Spotted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler Spotted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler

Juveniles
Spotted Turtle - By: Bob Hamilton Spotted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler Spotted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler
Spotted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler Spotted Turtle - By: Wayne Fidler

Range Map:
Spotten Turtle Range Map

References:

  • Hulse, C. and McCoy C. J. and Ellen Censky ,1998. Amphibians and Reptiles of Pennsylvania and the Northeast. 194-196pp.
  • Ernst, Carl H. and Lovich, Jeffrey E., and Barbour, Roger W. ,1994. Turtles of the United States and Canada. 205-212pp.

Photo Credits:

  • Tim Maret
  • Bob Hamilton
  • Wayne Fidler
  • Brandon Curtis