Species Profiles

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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