Pond and marsh turtles (family Emydidae) comprise the largest family of living turtles, including those listed on this page as well as diamondback terrapins, cooters and sliders, and box turtles.
 

 
The Spotted Turtle, Clemmys guttata, is found in slow moving streams in north Florida. Its shell, legs, and head are black spotted with yellow. It may grow to 5" long.
 

 
The Florida Chicken Turtle, Deirochelys reticularia chrysea, is found in quiet waters statewide. It has a netlike pattern of yellow lines on its oblong brown green shell, yellow stripes on its head, neck, hind legs and tail, and a yellow band on each front leg. It grows to a maximum length of 10". It feeds primarily on crayfish.
 
The Eastern Chicken Turtle, Deirochelys reticularia reticularia, is found in the panhandle and northern peninsula. It has a dark green or brown faintly patterned shell with a yellow edge. It has yellow stripes on its neck.
 

 
** PROTECTED **
Barbour's Map Turtle, Graptemys barbouri, is found in the Chipola and Apalachicola Rivers. Its knobbed shell is olive gray to dark brown with yellow "U" markings. Males grow to 5" in length; females to 12".
 
The Alabama Map Turtle, Graptemys pulchra, is found in the western panhandle. Its shell is olive to brown with a black stripe. There are large yellow or greenish blotches on the head and yellow or orange stripes on the neck.
 

 
The Florida Red-bellied Turtle, Pseudemys nelsoni, is found in quiet freshwater ponds and marshes throughout the peninsula. Its arched shell is dark with orange to red bands. Its belly may be red, orange, or yellow. It has a stripe between its eyes. It grows to a length of 13".
 

[ Reptile Index | Protected Reptiles ]