Description

The Southern Painted Turtle is a medium-sized turtle with gray-black carapace scutes and a red or orangeish line down the center of the shell. This species can be found in various water bodies in the northern half of the state (Powell et al., 2016). Heads are often marked with yellow or red colors.

Identifying Traits

• Red middorsal line on carapace

Habitat

Various water bodies in natural and urban areas.

Behavior

Often found basking in ponds in urban and more natural areas, can be locally abundant

Diet

Various invertebrates, aquatic vegetation