Reptiles

Spotted Turtle

(Clemmys guttata)

Species Description

**Description:** A small turtle with a smooth black shell sprinkled with bright yellow spots that look like a starry night sky.

**Size:** Shell length of 3.5 to 5 inches.

**Sexual Dimorphism:** Males typically have dark-colored chins and brown eyes; females have yellow chins and orange eyes.

**Life Cycle:** Rare / Species of Concern. One of the first turtles to emerge in spring; the number of spots increases with age.

**Habitat:** Shallow, mucky wetlands, bogs, and woodland pools.

💡 Fun Facts

A Spotted Turtle can have anywhere from zero to over 100 yellow spots on its shell.
Spotted Turtle: A small turtle with a smooth black shell sprinkled with bright yellow spots that look like a night sky.
Spotted Turtle (Hatchling): Tiny turtles about the size of a quarter; hatchlings typically have only one bright yellow spot on each large scute of their shell.
Spotted Turtle (Hibernaculum): A documentation of the underwater root tangles or muskrat burrows where these turtles gather to spend the winter months.
Spotted Turtle (Feeding Stage): A documentation of these turtles hunting for aquatic insects, tadpoles, and snail eggs in shallow, mucky wetland pools.
Spotted Turtle (Aestivation Phase): A documentation of the turtles buried in cool mud or under logs during the hottest weeks of summer to prevent overheating.
Spotted Turtle (Nesting Pose): A visual record of the female turtle using her hind legs to excavate a small, flask-shaped nest in sunny, well-drained upland soil.
Spotted Turtle (Upland Movement): A record of the turtle during its terrestrial travel phase, where individuals may cross roads or dry forest to reach new wetlands.
They are known to be very long-lived, with some individuals reaching ages of 50 to 100 years in undisturbed wetland habitats.