Turtles of New York State

urtles are unmistakable in appearance, their Turtles’ shells are import- unique double-shelled armor distinguishes ant for defense, protecting them from all other vertebrates. In New York these generally slow-moving TState, there are 11 species of freshwater or land reptiles from many predators. turtles and one saltwater/brackish water species. ˝e upper shell is called the Slow-growing, long-lived reptiles, turtles can carapace; the lower shell is the take ÿve to 20 years to reach sexual maturity, and plastron. can live up to 70 to 80 years. For most species, the cara- In New York State, turtles nest from late May pace and plastron are covered to early July, depositing eggs in sand, gravel, lawns, with a series of scutes (or Carapace of plates) laid out in a symmet- cropland, sphagnum moss or sedge tussocks. Eggs Wood Turtle incubate for about two to three months, with rical pattern. Growth of the hatchlings beginning to emerge in mid-August. shell is o˜en marked by a series of concentric rings or However, sometimes the late hatchlings overwin- annuli, which can be counted to determine age. How- ter in the nest, emerging a˜er the spring thaw. ever, since growth nearly stops a˜er the turtle reaches For many turtle species, the sex of the turtle is maturity, this method of determining age works best determined by the temperature at which the eggs for the ÿrst 10 to 20 years. incubate. Warmer temperatures usually produce Although a turtle’s shell may protect it from many all females; cooler temperatures usually produce predators, it does not protect against cars and trucks. all males. Identifying the sex of a turtle is com- Many individuals are crushed each year, especially fe- monly done by looking at the shape of the bottom males searching for a nest site in the gravel along road- shell—°at for females; concave for males. ways. Combined with habitat fragmentation by roads and developments, this has led to signiÿcant declines of many turtle populations. carapace (upper shell) scutes (plates) Plastron of annuli (rings) Wood Turtle annuli

plastron (lower shell) Wood Turtle Shell

By Alvin R. Breisch and John L. Behler Reprinted from the New York State Conservationist, February 2015 Turtle art by Jean Gawalt / Layout & Design by Frank Herec To subscribe, call 1-800-678-6399 Spotted Turtle (Special Concern) Common Musk Turtle Blanding’s Turtle (˜reatened) Shell length: 3.5 - 5.5 inches Shell length: 3 - 5 inches Shell length: 6 - 11 inches One of New York’s Also known as a “stink- Recognized by its most attractive pot,” the common musk bright-yellow throat freshwater turtles, turtle has four musk-pro- and chin, the Blan- the spotted turtle ducing glands on the ding’s turtle has has yellow polka underside of the carapace a smooth, hel- dots sprinkled margins, allowing it to met-shaped carapace across its neck, emit a foul odor when decorated with streaks. Its plastron is hinged head and carapace. Spotted turtles frequent disturbed. It has a smooth, high-domed carapace, like a box turtle’s, allowing it to partially shallow wetlands with generally clear water and o˜en looks like an oval, algae-covered stone. ˝e close its shell as protection from predators. and so˜, muddy substrates, such as swamps, plastron is small, cross-like, and hinged in front. ˝ere ˝e Blanding’s turtle prefers areas of vernal marshes, bogs, fens, wet meadows, vernal pools, are barbels on the chin and throat. Males have a thick pools and shrub swamps with thick emergent tidal wetlands, slow-moving woodland streams, tail that ends in a blunt nail. Stinkpots are found in vegetation, but can also occur in shallow weedy °ooded ditches and adjacent ÿelds and forests. slow-moving, muddy-bottomed rivers and big streams, coves and backwaters of lakes and rivers. Adult ˝ey feed on spotted salamander and wood frog and the shallow, weedy coves of lakes and large ponds. turtles may travel a distance to nest in plowed egg masses, tadpoles, snails, slugs, worms, small ˝ey eat algae, snails, leeches, worms, aquatic insects, ÿelds, pastures, lawns and road berms. ˝ey crustaceans and aquatic insects. crayÿsh, small ÿsh and tadpoles, as well as carrion. eat crayÿsh, tadpoles, frogs, small ÿsh, leeches, aquatic insects, snails, slugs, worms, berries Common Map Turtle Spiny Softshell (Special Concern) and aquatic vegetation. Shell Length: male 4 - 6 inches; female 7 - 11 inches Shell length: male 5 - 9 inches; female 7 - 19 inches ˝e map turtle’s name As its name implies, the Bog Turtle (Endangered) comes from the “topo- spiny so˜shell turtle has a Shell length: 3 - 4 inches graphic map-like” pat- so˜, °attened, leathery shell. Our smallest turtle, the tern on its carapace. ˝e It has a very long neck, and bog turtle is a secretive smooth carapace has a a snorkel-like snout with species, inhabiting keel down its midline, large nostrils. ˝e carapace bogs, fens and wet with the rear edge °ared lacks scutes, and has short meadows with slow and serrated. Males are decidedly smaller than spiny projections along the moving rivulets and females and have a more distinct keel. ˝is spe- front edge. ˝e feet are fully webbed. Males are consid- so˜ muddy bottoms. It is an attractive turtle, cies is found primarily in bays of Lake Ontario erably smaller than females, and have a long, thick tail. with large yellow to orange-red “ear” marks and in large rivers (like the Hudson), preferring Females have very short tails which are o˜en tucked un- that contrast with its black neck and head, stretches that are slow-moving with so˜ bottoms der the carapace. Spiny so˜shells occur in rivers, lakes, and a mahogany starburst pattern o˜en seen and good basking sites. With its massive head protected bays and river mouths that have so˜ mud or on each scute of its carapace. ˝e bog turtle and powerful jaws, females are well designed to sand bottoms and sparse aquatic vegetation. ˝ey avoid primarily eats slugs, worms, insects, seeds crush large snails, freshwater clams and crayÿsh. areas with rocky bottoms. Spiny so˜shells eat crayÿsh, and berries. Due to habitat loss, this turtle has ˝e diminutive male eats aquatic insects, small aquatic insects, snails, tadpoles and small ÿsh. become extirpated from many sites. snails and crustaceans.

Box Turtle (Special Concern) Diamondback Terrapin Eastern Mud Turtle (Endangered) Shell length: 4.5 - 6 inches Shell length: male 4 - 5.5 inches; female 6 - 9 inches Shell length: 3 - 5 inches New York’s most ter- Restricted to saltwater New York State’s rarest restrial turtle, the box and brackish habitats, turtle, the mud turtle turtle spends most of the diamondback has a smooth, oval, dark its time wandering terrapin can be seen carapace without a keel. open ÿelds and for- °oating in quiet bays ˝e plastron has two ests, only retreating with just its head well-developed hinges. to shallow pools or above the surface; its Both sexes have nail-tipped tails. Mud turtles are wetlands to soak during very hot and dry periods. white “lips” are a good ÿeld mark. ˝is turtle comes found in freshwater and brackish water marshes, It can completely close its shell, distinguishing it to shore to nest in the coastal dunes above high small ponds, water-ÿlled ditches, creeks and from other turtle species. ˝e box turtle’s high- tide levels. Prized by the gourmet, it is occasionally swamps. ˝ey prefer shallow, quiet waters with a domed carapace is brightly highlighted; the plas- harvested in New York. Terrapins eat clams, mussels so˜ bottom and emergent vegetation. tron is hinged. Males and females can be told apart and snails. by eye color—usually brown for females, red for Painted Turtle males. Box turtles eat a variety of °eshy fruits such Shell length: 5 - 7 inches as strawberries and raspberries, mushrooms and Our most common other so˜ vegetation, worms, slugs and snails. ˝ey species, the painted will also scavenge dead birds and mammals. turtle is o˜en seen basking in large num- Wood Turtle (Special Concern) bers on logs and stumps Shell length: 6 - 8 inches in marshes, ponds and ˝e wood turtle gets lakes, disappearing into its name from its the water quickly when preferred wooded Snapping Turtle disturbed. Bright stripes habitat, as well as Shell length: 10 - 16 inches on the neck and spots on the head can be seen from the color of Easily recognized by its large head, long saw-toothed when the turtle is basking. ˝e dark carapace is its carapace—the tail, stocky legs with large claws, and the jagged, bordered with red. ˝e plastron is plain yellow in prominent annuli saw-toothed rear edge on its dark shell, the snapping the Eastern painted turtle, and has a dark central give it the sculpted appearance of weathered tree turtle is our largest freshwater turtle. Known for its blotch in the Midland painted turtle. Males have rings. Wood turtles are usually found in or along defensive nature, this turtle will attack on land, but long claws on their front feet; females have longer clean, fast-°owing trout streams, foraging during prefers to °ee in water. Highly aquatic, this species shells. Painted turtles eat a variety of inverte- the summer in the woodlands bordering the is found in freshwater and brackish marshes, ponds, brates, tadpoles and vegetation, but will also streams. Like other turtles, females move into open lakes, rivers and streams. Snappers o˜en scavenge, scavenge carrion. areas for nesting. Wood turtles eat berries, mush- but they also take live food ranging in size from rooms, small ÿsh, slugs, worms and tadpoles. ˝ey small invertebrates to young waterfowl or small ÿsh. have also been known to feed on carrion.