Reptile · GBIF taxon 7062193
Eastern Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta pictaEastern Painted Turtles are dark freshwater turtles with yellow head stripes and red markings along the shell margin and limbs. This subspecies has unusually straight rows of large carapace scutes whose front and rear seams align across the back.
freshwater turtlebaskingaligned shell scutes
Licensed referenceMH Herpetology / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- aquatic insects
- snails
- small fish
Predators
- raccoons
- large fish
- herons
ThreatsRoad mortality, wetland loss, illegal collection, fishing gear, and nest predation
HabitatsPonds, marshes, slow rivers, lakes, and quiet backwaters with basking sites
Life spanOften twenty to forty years, with some wild individuals surviving longer
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyEmydidae
- SpeciesChrysemys picta picta
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- Wild turtles can bite and carry Salmonella even when they appear clean and healthy.
- Why it is dangerous
- Handling can provoke a defensive bite and transfer Salmonella from the turtle or its wet habitat.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Confirm yellow head stripes, red marginal markings, and aligned seams across the dark carapace.
- What to do
- Do not handle or collect; after unavoidable emergency contact, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Responsible observation
- Watch: Use binoculars so basking turtles remain on logs and conserve energy.
- Identify: Check whether the large central shell scutes align in straight crosswise rows.
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