Field Guide to Maryland's Turtles (Order Testudines)
Family Emydidae
Spotted Turtle
Clemmys guttata
Photo of Spotted Turtle courtesy of Tony Prochaska.
Size
3½ - 4½ inches. Record - 5 inches.
Appearance
Photo of Spotted Turtle courtesy of Scott A. Smith.
Habitats
A wide variety of shallow wetlands are used including wet meadows, freshwater marshes, bogs, swamps, small ponds, ditches, small woodland streams, Delmarva Bays and tidally influenced brackish streams. All typically have a soft substrate and some aquatic or emergent vegetation. They also seasonally spend time away from water, typically in woodlands, pastures and fields.
How to Find
Search shallow wetland edges during the day, particularly those dominated by herbaceous vegetation. Look for basking individuals in the morning. Easiest to find mid-April through June, though active until October.
Photo of Habitat for Spotted Turtle
courtesy of Rebecca Chalmers.
Distribution in Maryland
Found throughout Maryland.
Maryland's Herps
- Discover Maryland's Herps
- Maryland Herp History
- Amphibians
- Reptiles
- Maryland Herp Checklist
- Glossary
- Survey Techniques, Collecting Ethics, Safety and the Law
- Problems with Buying Frogs and Tadpoles for Wild Release
- Technical Guide: A Key to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Maryland - 86.3 MB pdf file
- References
- Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas (MARA) Project
- Natural Heritage Program
- Wildlife & Heritage Home
Maryland Amphibian
and Reptile Atlas Project
"A Joint Project of the Natural History Society of Maryland, Inc. and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources"
Recent Newsletters
To see older newsletters, please visit the MARA Resource Page.
The Maryland Herpetology Field Guide is a cooperative effort of the MD Natural Heritage Program and the MD Biological Stream Survey within the Department of Natural Resources and their partners. We wish to thank all who contributed field records, text, and photographs, as well as support throughout its development.