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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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),...
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...
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)...
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)...
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...
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...
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...
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”...
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”...
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...
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),...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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,...
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,...
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...
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...

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