Species Profiles

Natural History, Care Guide, and Photo Gallery

Pacific Pond Turtle

Actinemys marmorata

Region:

United States

Status:

Vulnerable A1cd (1996)

The Pacific Pond Turtle is a small to medium sized turtle, reaching a record of 24.1 cm SCL. This turtle has a low carapace and...
Radiated Tortoise

Astrochelys radiata

Region:

Africa

Status:

Critically Endangered A4d, E (2008)

Considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful (and arguably the most beautiful) tortoise species, the Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) is an unmistakable icon...
Zambezi Flapshell Turtle

Cycloderma frenatum

Region:

Africa

Status:

Near Threatened (1996)

The Zambezi Flapshell Turtle, Cycloderma frenatum, is a large turtle from Southeast Africa, reaching an adult size of approximately 56 cm (22 in) and a...
Indian Star Tortoise and Sri Lankan Star Tortoise

Geochelone elegans

Region:

South & East Asia

Status:

Least Concern (2000)

At least two geographically separated variants can be perceived — some suggest four variants. In the United States these variants are perceived as the Indian...
Ryukyu Black-Breasted Leaf Turtle

Geoemyda japonica

Region:

South & East Asia

Status:

Endangered A1ce; B1+2c (2000)

Geoemyda japonica has a carapace length of up to 160 mm, with a rather elongate, lightly domed shell with a flattened peak. The widest point...
Vietnamese Black-Breasted Leaf Turtle

Geoemyda spengleri

Region:

South & East Asia

Status:

Endangered A1cd+2cd (2000)

Geoemyda spengleri is among the world’s smallest turtles, with a SCL length of no more than 11cm (4.3”). The carapace is somewhat elongated, rather flattened,...
Mojave Desert Tortoise

Gopherus agassizii

Region:

United States

Status:

Vulnerable A1acde+2cde; E (1996)

With a large shell up to 15″ in length, this land tortoise has a domed carapace that is marked by distinct growth rings. Coloration can...
Texas Tortoise

Gopherus berlandieri

Region:

Central America and United States

Status:

Least Concern (1996)

Four species of tortoise are native to North America; Berlandier’s Tortoise is the smallest of the four. The average size of this species is approximately...
Sonoran Desert Tortoise

Gopherus morafkai

Region:

Central America and United States

Status:

Vulnerable A1acde+2cde; E (1996)

With a large shell up to 15″ in length, this land tortoise has a domed carapace that is marked by distinct growth rings. Coloration...
Barbour's Map Turtle

Graptemys barbouri

Region:

United States

Status:

Vulnerable A2bcde (2011)

Graptemys barbouri is a medium to large map turtle. Females will typically reach 11-12” (28-30cm) SCL, max 13” (33cm), while males stay considerably smaller at...
Cagle's Map Turtle

Graptemys caglei

Region:

United States

Status:

Endangered A2c+4c; B2ab(iii) (2011)

Graptemys caglei is one of the smallest of the map turtles. Males will reach 2.75″-4″ (6.3-10cm) SCL, max 5″ (12.6cm), while females will only reach...
Escambia Map Turtle

Graptemys ernsti

Region:

United States

Status:

Near Threatened (2011)

Graptemys ernsti is a medium to large map turtle. Females will typically reach 9”-10” (22.9-25.4cm), max 11.2” (28.5cm) while males stay considerably smaller at 4”-5”...
Yellow-Blotched Map Turtle

Graptemys flavimaculata

Region:

United States

Status:

Vulnerable A2bce+4ce (2011)

Graptemys flavimaculata is a small to medium map turtle. Males will typically reach 3″-4.5″ (7.6-11.4cm) SCL, max 4.7″ (11.9cm), while females will only reach about...
Northern Map Turtle

Graptemys geographica

Region:

Canada and United States

Status:

Least Concern (2011)

Graptemys geographica is a medium to large map turtle. Females will typically reach 8-10”(20.3-25.4cm), max 10.7” (27.3cm), while males stay smaller at 4-5.5” (10.2-14cm), max...
Pascagoula Map Turtle

Graptemys gibbonsi

Region:

United States

Status:

Endangered A2bce+4ce (2011)

Graptemys gibbonsi is a medium to large map turtle. In 2010, G. pearlensis was broken from synonymy with G. gibbonsi. The visual cues described later...
Delta Map Turtle

Graptemys nigrinoda delticola

Region:

United States

Status:

Least Concern (2011)

Graptemys nigrinoda delticola is a medium-sized turtle. Males will reach 2.75″-4.75″ (7-12cm) SCL, max 4.8″ (12.2cm), while females will grow to about 6.7”-8.7″ (17-22cm) SCL,...
Black-Knobbed Map Turtle

Graptemys nigrinoda nigrinoda

Region:

United States

Status:

Least Concern (2011)

Graptemys nigrinoda nigrinoda is a medium-sized turtle. Males will reach 2.75″-4.75″ (7-12cm) SCL, max 4.8″ (12.2cm), while females will grow to about 6.7”-8.7″ (17-22cm) SCL,...
Ringed Map Turtle

Graptemys oculifera

Region:

United States

Status:

Vulnerable B2ab(iii) (2011)

Graptemys oculifera is among the smallest of the map turtles. Males will only reach 2.8″-4.3″ (7.2-10.9cm) SCL, mean 3.5″ (8.9cm), max 4.3″ (10.9cm), while females...
Ouachita Map Turtle

Graptemys ouachitensis

Region:

United States

Status:

Least Concern (2011)

Graptemys ouachitensis is a medium to large map turtle. Females will typically reach an SCL of 7-9”(17.7-22.9cm), max 9.5” (24cm), while males stay smaller at...
Pearl River Map Turtle

Graptemys pearlensis

Region:

United States

Status:

Endangered A1bcde+A4bcde (2011)

Graptemys pearlensis is a medium to large map turtle. In 2010, G. pearlensis was broken from synonymy with G. gibbonsi. The visual cues described later...
Mississippi Map Turtle

Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii

Region:

United States

Status:

Least Concern (2011)

Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii is a medium to large map turtle. Females will typically reach 8-10”(20.3-25.4cm), max 10.6” (27cm), while males stay smaller at 3.5-5.5” (8.9-14cm),...
False Map Turtle

Graptemys pseudogeographica pseudogeographica

Region:

United States

Status:

Least Concern (2011)

Graptemys pseudogeographica pseudogeographica is a medium to large map turtle. Females will typically reach 8-10”(20.3-25.4cm), max 10.6” (27cm), while males stay smaller at 3.5-5.5” (8.9-14cm),...
Alabama Map Turtle

Graptemys pulchra

Region:

United States

Status:

Near Threatened (2011)

Graptemys pulchra is a medium to large map turtle. Females will typically reach 9”-10” (22.9-25.4cm), max 10.75” (27.3cm) while males stay considerably smaller at 4”-5”...
Sabine Map Turtle

Graptemys sabinensis

Region:

United States

Status:

Least Concern (2011)

Graptemys sabinensis is a medium to large map turtle. Females will typically reach 7-9”(17.7-22.9cm), max 9.5” (24cm), while males stay smaller at 3.5-5” (8.9-12.7cm), max...
Texas Map Turtle

Graptemys versa

Region:

United States

Status:

Least Concern (2011)

Graptemys versa is a small turtle; the smallest of the map turtles. Males will reach 2.75″-4″ (6.3-10cm) SCL, max 4.5″ (11.5cm), while females will only...
3-Striped Mud Turtle

Kinosternon baurii

Region:

United States

Status:

Least Concern (2011)

The Striped Mud Turtle (Kinosternon baurii) is a small turtle with a moderately domed shell and three characteristic stripes that extend laterally along the length...
Yellow Mud Turtle

Kinosternon flavescens

Region:

Central America and United States

Status:

Least Concern (2011)

Kinosternon flavescens is a moderate-sized mud turtle. Males are typically slightly larger than females, usually reaching an SCL of 6-6.25” (max ~6.7”) – while females...
West African Mud Turtle

Pelusios castaneus

Region:

Africa

Status:

Least Concern (1996)

Like every Pelomedusidae species, Pelusios castaneus lack a cervical scute therefore both the M1 and M2 scutes touch each other. Likewise, as with every Pleurodira,...
Common Spider Tortoise

Pyxis arachnoides arachnoides

Region:

Africa

Status:

Critically Endangered A4cd; E (2008)

Spider Tortoises earn their common and Latin names from the radiating carapace markings that resemble a spider’s web. The shell is a cream color, and...
Northern Spider Tortoise

Pyxis arachnoides brygooi

Region:

Africa

Status:

Critically Endangered A4cd; E (2008)

Spider Tortoises earn their common and Latin names from the radiating carapace markings that resemble a spider’s web. The shell is a cream color, and...
Southern Spider Tortoise

Pyxis arachnoides oblonga

Region:

Africa

Status:

Critically Endangered A4cd; E (2008)

Spider Tortoises earn their common and Latin names from the radiating carapace markings that resemble a spider’s web. The shell is a cream color, and...
Four-Eyed Turtle

Sacalia quadriocellata

Region:

South & East Asia

Status:

Endangered A1d+2d (2000)

Sacalia quadriocellata has a very similar appearance to its closest relative, Sacalia bealei (Beal’s Eyed Turtle). The primary identifying feature of the Four-Eyed Turtle is...
Western Hermann's Tortoise

Testudo hermanni hermanni

Region:

Europe

Status:

Endangered B1+2abcde

Testudo hermanni hermanni is one of two currently recognized subspecies of the European Hermann’s tortoise or “Mediterranean spur-tailed tortoise”. Also referred to as the Italian...

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