AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CLUB OF NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota has 5 species of turtles:
- Western Painted Turtle, Chrysemys picta bellii
- Midland Smooth Softshell, Apalone mutica
- Smooth Softshell, Apalone spinifera
- False Map Turtle, Graptemys pseudogeographica
- Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina
Western Painted Turtle
SIZE: 3-10 inches.
RANGE: Throughout the state.
HABITAT: In water.
MIDLAND SMOOTH SOFTSHELL
SIZE: Between 5-14 inches long.
RANGE: South of Bismarck in the Missouri River.
HABITAT: Usually submerged, sometimes basking on the shore.
EASTERN SPINY SOFTSHELL
SIZE: Between 4-16 inches long.
RANGE: South of the Garrison Dam in the Missouri River system.
HABITAT: Usually submerged but sometimes will bask on shore.
FALSE MAP TURTLE
SIZE: Between 4-10 inches long.
RANGE: South of the Garrison Dam in the Missouri River system.
HABITAT: Usually submerged but sometimes will bask on shore/logs.
COMMON SNAPPING TURTLE
SIZE: Between 7-19 inches long
RANGE: Throughout the state.
HABITAT: Usually submerged along the edges of ponds with just eyes and nostrils above water.
ALSO IN THE ARCND SERIES:
REFERENCES
Information taken from:
- Peterson's Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians, Fourth Edition (2016)
- Crother et al.'s SCIENTIFIC AND STANDARD ENGLISH NAMES OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF NORTH AMERICA NORTH OF MEXICO, WITH COMMENTS REGARDING CONFIDENCE IN OUR UNDERSTANDING, Seventh Edition (2012)
- ND Game and Fish's Reptiles and Amphibians of North Dakota (2015)
IMAGE CREDITS: