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Abbreviation Legend

  • (CE) - Criticially Endangered
  • (CI) - Critically Imperiled
  • (E) - Endangered
  • (I) - Introduced
  • (IM) - Imperiled
  • (NT) - Near Threatened
  • (T) - Threatened
  • (V) - Vulnerable
  • (**) - Recent Classification Change
Home »» Turtles & Tortoises »» Emydidae (Pond, Marsh, & Box Turtles) Pagfe 1 of 2

Pond, Marsh, and Box Turtles of the United States

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These turtles found north of Mexico are small to medium sized turtles with horny scute covered shells, twelve marginal scutes on each side of the carapace, and six pairs of scutes on the plastron. The plastron and bridge are well developed. Unlike tortoises, the hind feet are flattened and slongated with some webbing. With the exception of the high domes Terrapene, their shells are low profile. Blanding's and box turtles have a single plastral hinge.

Most of this type of turtle are semiaquatic, Grapytemys and Malaclemys are the most highly aquatic, while Clemmys and Terrapene are the most terrestrial. Diet is varied, while generally omnivorous, some species are carnivorous as juveniles and essentially herbivorous as adults. Basking behavior is well developed. The courtship pattern of emydids is often elaborate. Male Chrysemys may face females and stroke her head and neck with his elongated foreclaws. Egg and clutch size vary with species, subspecies, size of females, and latitude. From 2 to 25 elliptical eggs are typically deposited in a flask slaped nest. Northern forms usually next once a season while southern can nest 2 or 3 (or more) times a season.

 

There 37 species of Pond, Marsh, and Box Turtles in the United States, 36 are native to the U.S. and only 1 has been Introduced.


(V)

Western Pond Turtle
(Actinemys marmorata)

Southern Painted Turtle
(Chrysemys dorsalis)

Common Painted Turtle
(Chrysemys picta)
(E)

Spotted Turtle
(Clemmys guttata)

Chicken Turtle
(Deirochelys reticularia)
(E)

Blanding's Turtle
(Emydoidea blandingii)
(E)

Wood Turtle
(Glyptemys insculpta)
(CE)

Bog Turtle
(Glyptemys muhlenbergii)
(V)

Barbour's Map Turtle
(Graptemys barbouri)
(E)

Cagle's Map Turtle
(Graptemys caglei)
(T)

Escambia Map Turtle
(Graptemys ernsti)
(V)

Yellow-Blotched Map Turtle
(Graptemys flavimaculata)

Northern Map Turtle
(Graptemys geographica)
(E)

Pascagoula Map Turtle
(Graptemys gibbonsi)

Black-Knobbed Map Turtle
(Graptemys nigrinoda)
(V)

Ringed Map Turtle
(Graptemys oculifera)

Ouachita Map Turtle
(Graptemys ouachitensis)
(E)

Pearl River Map Turtle
(Graptemys pearlensis)

False Map Turtle
(Graptemys pseudogeographica)
(NT)

Alabama Map Turtle
(Graptemys pulchra)
(**)(V)

Sabine Map Turtle
(Graptemys sabinensis)

Texas Map Turtle
(Graptemys versa)
(V)

Diamondback Terrapin
(Malaclemys terrapin)
(E)

Alabama Red-Bellied Cooter
(Pseudemys alabamensis)

River Cooter
(Pseudemys concinna)

Coastal Plain Cooter
(Pseudemys floridana)
(NT)

Rio Grande Cooter
(Pseudemys gorzugi)

Florida Redbelly Cooter
(Pseudemys nelsoni)

Peninsular Cooter
(Pseudemys peninsularis)
(NT)

Northern Red-Bellied Cooter
(Pseudemys rubriventris)

 

 

 

 

Recommended Books at Amazon.com


Turtles of North America: An Illustrated Field Guide to the Turtles of the Continental United States and Canada     Turtles of the United States and Canada     Common Box Turtles     Complete North American Box Turtle



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Disclaimer: ITIS taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up-to-date information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the United States is a party, wildlife statutes, regulations, and any applicable notices that have been published in the Federal Register. For further information on U.S. legal requirements with respect to protected taxa, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 
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