Instructions
Examine without touching the feet of the turtle. Webbed back feet in the back indicate either an aquatic or semi-aquatic turtle. Land-based turtles do not have webbed feet. If it has flippers on the front feet, it is a sea turtle.
Peer at the shell. Box turtles have high domed shells. Flatter shells with black, yellow, red or orange markings indicate the chrysemys species, which includes painted turtles, sliders and cooters.
Check the turtle's tail. A snapping turtle has a long tail with large scales in the center.
Look at the skin coloring. A green, yellow and black turtle with red or orange markings on its face means the turtle is probably a red-eared slider. Red and yellow stripes on the legs indicate a painted turtle.
How to Identify a Turtle
Turtles are reptiles known for their slow pace and protective shell in which they live out their lives. Turtles make for good pets for people who do not prefer dogs or cats because of shedding or the more-involved care that mammals require. Turtles are popular attractions at aquariums, where you can see them swimming or resting in their natural habitat. Whether you see a turtle at a pet store or on the beach in Hawaii, there are several ways of identifying the type of turtle.