Painted Turtle

Also known as Eastern Painted Turtle, Western Painted Turtle, Midland Painted Turtle

Painted turtles are colorful pond turtles easily recognized by the bright red and yellow stripes on their neck, legs, and shell margins. They spend hours basking on logs and rocks to regulate their body temperature, often stacking on top of one another to secure prime sunning spots. During harsh winters, they hibernate in the mud at the bottom of ponds, surviving for months without breathing oxygen through a remarkable anaerobic metabolism.