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Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina Class Reptilia Order Testudines Family Chelydridae

Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina Class Reptilia Order Testudines Family Chelydridae. The Common Snapping Turtle is numerous throughout most of West Virginia. This species is found in almost any type of aquatic habitat, but it prefers water bodies with soft, muddy

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Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina Class Reptilia Order Testudines Family Chelydridae

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  1. Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina Class Reptilia Order Testudines Family Chelydridae The Common Snapping Turtle is numerous throughout most of West Virginia. This species is found in almost any type of aquatic habitat, but it prefers water bodies with soft, muddy bottoms. It is recognized by its large head, serrated carapace, long, toothed tail, and small plastron. It is typically 20 - 36 cm (8 - 14 in) in length and weighs 4.5 - 16 kg (10 - 35 lb). Note small plastron Sources: Conant and Collins; Jeff Humphries, Marshall Univ. Spotted Turtle Clemmys guttata Class Reptilia Order Testudines Family Emydidae Typical Spotted Turtle Sources: Conant and Collins; Jeff Humphries, Marshall Univ. In West Virginia, the Spotted Turtle is found only in fens the Eastern Panhandle region. In most parts of its range, it can be identified by the spots on its carapace, but in West Virginia the spotting is indistinct or absent. There is usually some orange on the chin and the inside of the front and back legs. Spotted Turtles rarely exceed 13 cm (5 in) in length. WV Spotted Turtles

  2. Wood Turtle Clemmys insculpta Class Reptilia Order Testudines Family Emydidae Sources: Conant and Collins; Jeff Humphries, Marshall Univ. The Wood Turtle is a highly terrestrial species, frequently wandering some distance from water. Note sculpted look of carapace, with each scute forming an irregular pyramid. There is orange on its neck and legs. Easily told from Eastern Box Turtle by its unhinged plastron. Size from 14 - 20 cm (5.5 - 8 in). Plastron of male Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina carolina Class Reptilia Order Testudines Family Emydidae Sources: Conant and Collins; Jeff Humphries, Marshall Univ. The Eastern Box Turtle is a highly terrestrial species that is found throughout West Virginia. Its hinged plastron can be closed tightly when it perceives danger. The domed carapace is highly variable in color. A popular pet species, box turtles adapt quickly to captivity. Box turtles are omni- vorous.

  3. Map Turtle Graptemys geographica Class Reptilia Order Testudines Family Emydidae Map Turtles get their name from the markings on their carapace, which resemble lines or waterways on maps. 18 - 27 cm (7 - 10.75 in). Note yellow spot behind the eye. Generally prefers larger bodies of water, such as lakes and rivers, to small streams and ponds. Sources: Conant and Collins; Jeff Humphries, Marshall Univ. Eastern Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta picta Class Reptilia Order Testudines Family Emydidae The Eastern Painted Turtle is a species that prefers shallow water, a muddy bottom, and plenty of aquatic vegetation. Carapace is smooth and unkeeled. Unlike other turtles, the scutes of this species are more or less arranged in rows across the back (see top left photo). Note light bands on the front edges of scutes, red and black margins of carapace. 11.5 - 15.2 cm (4.5 - 6 in). Sources: Conant and Collins; Jeff Humphries, Marshall Univ.

  4. Midland Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta marginata Class Reptilia Order Testudines Family Emydidae The Midland Painted Turtle is quite similar to the Eastern Painted Turtle, but in this species the scutes are arranged in a more or less alternate fashion, unlike the EPT whose scutes form a nearly straight line across the back. Habitat use similar to the Eastern Painted Turtle - shallow, muddy bottom, plenty of aquatic vegetation. 11.5 - 14 cm (4.5 - 5.5 in). Sources: Conant and Collins; Jeff Humphries, Marshall Univ. Red-eared Slider Trachemys scripta elegans Class Reptilia Order Testudines Family Emydidae Sources: Conant and Collins; Jeff Humphries, Marshall Univ. In West Virginia the Red-eared Slider is found primarily in the southern portion of the Ohio River drainage and in the far eastern panhandle. This is the only turtle in North America that has a broad, red “ear” stripe, but this mark is not found on all specimens, especially older adults. This species is often seen basking on logs. It prefers quiet waters with a muddy bottom and plenty of aquatic vegetation. 12.5 - 20.3 cm (5 - 8 in).

  5. Eastern River Cooter Pseudemys concinna concinna Class Reptilia Order Testudines Family Emydidae Sources: Conant and Collins; Jeff Humphries, Marshall Univ. The Eastern River Cooter is a medium-sized turtle, ranging from 23 - 30.6 cm (9 - 12 in). In West Virginia, the species is only found in the south-central portion of the state. The second costal scute has a faint C-shaped marking, the head has 5 stripes between the eyes , and the undersurfaces are heavily marked. Prefers streams and rivers with slow to moderate current and a rocky bottom. Redbelly Turtle Pseudemys rubriventris Class Reptilia Order Testudines Family Emydidae In West Virginia, this species is limited to the eastern panhandle. The Redbelly Turtle ranges from 25 - 32 cm (10 - 12 in), much larger than the painted turtles with which it co-occurs. Coloration and pattern are highly variable. Female has vertical reddish markings on her carapace, while male carapace coloration is variable. Found in ponds, rivers, and other larger bodies of freshwater. Sources: Conant and Collins; Jeff Humphries, Marshall Univ.

  6. Common Musk Turtle Sternotherus odoratus Class Reptilia Order Testudines Family Kinosternidae The Common Musk Turtle derives its other common name -Stinkpot- from the foul-smelling secretions it emits when captured. In West Virginia, it is found in the southwestern portion of the state. The Common Musk Turtle is small, ranging from 5 - 11.5 cm (2 - 4.5 in). There are barbels on the chin and neck and two stripes on the side of the head. Found in a wide variety of water bodies. Sources: Conant and Collins; Jeff Humphries, Marshall Univ. Eastern Spiny Softshell Apalone spinifera spinifera Class Reptilia Order Testudines Family Trinychidae The Eastern Spiny Softshell is one of two softshells found in West Virginia, the Midland Smooth Softshell being the other. Feet are strongly streaked and spotted, there is a ridge in each nostril, and there are spiny projections on the carapace. In males, the spines are found over the entire carapace while spines are limited to the forward edge and vicinity of the carapace. Smooth softshells lack “spines”. Sources: Conant and Collins; Jeff Humphries, Marshall Univ.

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