Did You Know?

The spotted turtle is one of the smallest full-size turtles found in the United States. Its black shell is peppered with yellow spots, which vary depending on the spotted turtle’s age. Older turtles tend to have many more spots, sometimes more than 125 scattered across their shell and face. Younger turtles may have just a few spots, often only one per scute. A spotted turtle's hingeless plastron is yellow and orange with some blotches of black. Its legs are mainly black with red or orange mixed in with the yellow spots. Reptile Channel

Please support our conservation efforts!

Spotted Turtle

Date Submitted: July 2, 2010

Observer: Paul Lauenstein

Observation Date: 6/28/10

Observation Time: 8:00 a.m.

Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road behind Shaw's Plaza

Plant or Animal? Animal

Common Name: Spotted Turtle (female)

Scientific Name: Clemmys guttata

Spotted Turtle

Comments: This female spotted turtle may have been searching for a sandy spot to lay eggs. It may take up to 7 years for a spotted turtle to reach sexual maturity. Or perhaps it was returning to deeper water after the vernal pool dried up where it was feeding on amphibian eggs. Young spotted turtles only have one yellow spot per scute. More yellow spots appear as they age.

Many turtles get run over by cars. If you find a turtle on a road, dead or alive, please report it to the Massachusetts Turtle Atlas

More Information: Mass. NHESP "MASSACHUSETTS FORESTRY CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR SPOTTED TURTLES"

Previous, Subsequent, or Similar Sightings:
Eastern Box Turtle, 7/20/10
Painted Turtle, 8/4/10
Snapping Turtle (hatchling), 8/22/10

Back to the Sightings List