Home › Reptilia › Emydidae › Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)
SPECIES PROFILE
Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)
Chrysemys
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Reptilia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
The most widespread native turtle in North America; ranges from Atlantic to Pacific and from southern Canada to northern Mexico
DIET
Omnivore
HABITAT
Shallow freshwater habitats throughout North America including lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, and sloughs with basking logs and aquatic vegetation
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Reptilia
ORDER
Testudines
FAMILY
Emydidae
GENUS
Chrysemys
📋 Description
SIZE
10–20 cm carapace length; 200–500 g; eastern subspecies smaller, western subspecies larger
COLORATION
Smooth olive to black carapace with red and yellow marginal markings; bright red and yellow stripes on the neck, legs, and tail
ADAPTATIONS
Freeze-tolerant in muddy winter hibernation; absorbs oxygen through the cloaca underwater during winter; most cold-tolerant turtle in North America
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Shallow freshwater habitats throughout North America including lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, and sloughs with basking logs and aquatic vegetation
DIET
Omnivore
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
The most widespread native turtle in North America; ranges from Atlantic to Pacific and from southern Canada to northern Mexico
REPRODUCTION
Females nest in June to July; 4–15 eggs in a sunny upland nest; hatchlings may overwinter in the nest
DIET DETAILS
Aquatic plants, algae, insects, snails, crayfish, small fish, and carrion; highly opportunistic feeder
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Road mortality of nesting females; nest predation by raccoons; water pollution; collection
💡 Interesting Facts
1
The Painted Turtle is the most widespread native turtle in North America, found from coast to coast in virtually any freshwater habitat with basking sites.
2
Painted Turtles can survive being frozen solid in winter — hatchlings spend their first winter inside the nest where temperatures may drop well below freezing, surviving by producing cryoprotectants.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Area near Mayville, WI, has abundant Painted Turtles basking on logs along canoe trails
Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge near Havana, IL, has Painted Turtles in Illinois River backwater habitats
Voyageurs National Park near International Falls, MN, has Painted Turtles in boreal lake and river habitats
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Spring to autumn. The most commonly seen freshwater turtle in North America; basks on logs at virtually any Midwest lake or pond.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
April to September on warm days; best viewing mid-morning when turtles are actively basking; accessible at Horicon Marsh, WI, and Chautauqua NWR, IL.
