Spotted Turtle
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| Clemmys guttata (Schneider, 1792) |
The Spotted Turtle, Clemmys guttata, is a small turtle with a shell that can grow between 3.5 to 5 inches. Their upper shell, or carapace, ranges in color from black to a blue-ish black with a number of yellow or cream-colored tiny round spots. Spotted Turtles inhabit a variety of shallow, fresh-water areas such as marshes, wet meadows, bogs, and woodland streams in the Eastern U.S. (the eastern Great Lakes and east of the Appalachian Mountains) and southern Canada (Ontario). Many Spotted turtles are used as pets (however this practice is illegal in many jurisdictions, including Canada, due to their threatened status) but aren't as popular as the Red Eared Slider.
Adult males have brown eyes and a tan chin; adult females have orange eyes and a yellow chin.
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[edit] Taxonomy
Until recently, the genus Clemmys consisted of four species (Bog Turtle, Spotted Turtle, Western Pond Turtle, and the Wood Turtle). Recent genetic analyses have revealed that the Spotted Turtle is distinct from the other three species [1] . The Bog Turtle and the Wood Turtle were moved to the genus Glyptemys, while the Western Pond Turtle has been re-named Actinemys. This makes the Spotted Turtle the sole member of the genus Clemmys.
[edit] Diet
The diet of spotted turtles consists of many different available water plants, especially the seeds of lily pads. Algae is another common food. Insects and mollusks also make up a large portion of their diet. All food is eaten underwater.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Feldman, C.R. and J.F. Parham. 2002. Molecular phylogenetics of Emydine turtles: taxonomic revision and the evolution of shell kinesis. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 22:388-398.
[edit] References
- Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996). Clemmys guttata. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Vulnerable (VU A1cd+2cd v2.3)
[edit] External links
- ARKive - images and movies of the spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata)
- Barney - heartwarming spotted turtle story by Tom Devine
- "Developing a Habitat Suitability Model for the Spotted Turtle Using a Hybrid-Deductive Approach" by Bryan Correa-Berger [1]
