The Spotted Turtle is a small, colorful freshwater turtle known for its distinct yellow spots on a black or dark brown shell.
It’s native to the Eastern United States and parts of Canada, preferring wetlands, marshes, and shallow ponds.
These turtles have a relatively small size, reaching about 4 to 5 inches in shell length.
They are considered a species of special concern due to habitat loss and collection for the pet trade.
Spotted Turtle Taxonomy
In the Animal Kingdom, Taxonomy is used as the science and practice of classifying different species and sub-species based on their biological and genetic makeup.
Family
The Spotted Turtle belongs to the Emydidae family of turtles. This is a family that contains 10 different genera and almost 50 different species of turtle.
Some of the Asian Box Turtles were once classified as part of this family but have since been reclassified. This includes species such as the Asian Box Turtle and the Chinese Box Turtle.
The species in this family are commonly called terrapins, pond turtles, or marsh turtles.
Genus
The genus that the Spotted Turtle belongs to is called Clemmys. This is a monotypical genus, meaning it contains only one species.
Other species, such as the Wood Turtle and Western Pond Turtle were once part of this genus but have since been reclassified.
Species
The scientific name for the Spotted Turtle is Clemmys guttata and there are currently no recognised sub-species.
This species was first described in 1792 by a German naturalist named Johann Gottlob Theaenus Schneider.
Spotted Turtle Description
The Spotted Turtle has a distinctive appearance. Their shells are usually dark-colored, ranging from black to dark brown, and are covered in bright yellow spots.
The spots are often irregular in shape and can vary in size. Their heads and legs also have yellow markings, making them quite colorful and eye-catching.
The shell of a Spotted Turtle is relatively small, measuring around 4 to 5 inches in length. It’s characterized by a domed shape and is slightly flattened on top.
In general, a male Spotted Turtle tends to have slightly larger and wider tails than females. This difference is more pronounced in mature individuals.
Additionally, males often have a concave lower shell or plastron, which helps them fit securely on the back of the female during mating.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Spotted Turtle is native to the Eastern part of North America, with its range extending from Southern Canada to parts of the United States.
Its range covers areas from Southern Ontario and Quebec in Canada, down to the South-Eastern United States, reaching as far south as Florida.
Within this range, the Spotted Turtle is typically found in wetland habitats, including marshes, bogs, fens, and other areas with shallow water and abundant vegetation.
They also inhabit slow-moving streams, small ponds, and areas with muddy bottoms.
These turtles have a preference for habitats that provide both aquatic environments for swimming and feeding, as well as suitable basking sites for sunning themselves.
Spotted Turtle Behaviour
The Spotted Turtle is relatively shy and prefer to spend a lot of their time in water. However, they do require basking spots to regulate their body temperature.
They are omnivores, consuming a diet of aquatic plants, insects, worms, and small invertebrates.
The Female will usually lay a small clutch of eggs (around 2 to 5 eggs) in a carefully chosen nest site.
The eggs incubate for a couple of months before hatching. The gender of the hatchlings is determined by the temperature at which the eggs are incubated.
Cooler temperatures produce males and warmer temperatures producing females.