Information on Land Turtles

Turtles are a type of reptile. Unlike all other reptiles, turtles' soft bodies are covered in a shell for protection of the body. Turtles also differ from other reptiles because they have a beak where most reptiles have teeth. There are two types of turtles, land and sea. Like all reptiles, turtles are cold blooded which means their internal temperature is the same as the air around them. Like all reptiles, turtles lay eggs. Below are some species of land turtles found in the United States and their descriptions and habitats.

  1. Eastern Box Turtle

    • Eastern box turtles have highly domed shells. Their shells are spotted with bright yellow markings on their brown shells. They have three claws on their back feet. Some subspecies have four claws on their back feet and no yellow markings on their shells. The yellow ones prefer to live in damp brush whereas the brown ones prefer open habitats. Males are usually a little bigger than females. Males have bright orange eyes. Females have amber colored eyes. They are omnivores. They have a life span of 20 to 50 years.

    Ornate Box Turtle

    • Ornate box turtles are usually found in open prairies and open woods in the Midwestern United States. They make burrows in their habitat. They are small to medium in size. They are omnivorous. Unlike the wood turtle, the ornate box turtle can fully close into its shell, allowing it to securely hide from danger. Ornate box turtles are small to medium, measuring 6 inches long.

    Wood Turtle

    • The wood turtle is found in Midwestern United States. They generally live in damp woods and pastures. Some hibernate, or sleep all winter in creek beds or shallow water. They are brown, tan, or grayish brown. The inside of their legs can be anywhere from red to yellow. Their throats can also be the same color as their legs. Due to a hingeless plastron (bony plate, shell, or underside of the body) the wood turtle cannot fully close into its shell

    Spotted Turtle

    • Spotted turtles have a dark, highly domed shell. Their shells are covered in small yellow spots which gives its shell an appearance similar to a starry night sky. Their heads and limbs are spotted as well. Sometimes young or old spotted turtles do not have spots. They are found in the eastern United States. They live in highly vegetated, shallow wetlands. They can live up to 30 years.

    Yellow Mud Turtle

    • The yellow mud turtle can be found in the Southwestern United States. The shell is usually olive green or brown. The shell is flat in appearance in comparison to the box and wood turtles. Yellow mud turtles get their names from their yellow chin which makes them stand out in their habitats. Their habitats consist of swamps, sinkholes, rovers, creeks, ponds and lakes. They migrate to different bodies of water.