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View down the stream at McCormick's Creek, Indiana's oldest state park. The creek was a bi
FIELD GUIDES

Indiana Turtles Field Guide

Turtles of Indiana

Indiana's lakes, rivers, wetlands, and woodlands support roughly 18 species of turtles — from the massive alligator snapping turtle to the land-dwelling eastern box turtle. Several, including the spotted and Blanding's turtles, are species of conservation concern as wetland habitat disappears. Browse the species below to identify Indiana's turtles by shell shape, markings, and habitat.

Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii), a massive aquatic turtle with three jagged shell ridges and a hooked beak, found in southwestern Indiana
Alligator Snapping Turtle

Macrochelys temminckii

Carapace 15 - 26 inches

State Endangered

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Common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus), a small domed aquatic turtle with two light head stripes and chin barbels, found in Indiana
Common Musk Turtle

Sternotherus odoratus

Carapace 3 - 5 inches

Common

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Eastern snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), a large aquatic turtle with a big head, hooked jaws, and a long saw-toothed tail, found in Indiana
Eastern Snapping Turtle

Chelydra serpentina serpentina

Carapace 8 - 14 inches

Common

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Hieroglyphic river cooter (Pseudemys concinna), a large basking turtle with C-shaped yellow shell markings and striped skin, found in Indiana rivers
Hieroglyphic River Cooter

Pseudemys concinna hieroglyphica

Carapace 7 - 10 inches

State Endangered

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Ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata), a land turtle with bright radiating yellow lines on a domed dark shell, found in Indiana sand prairies
Ornate Box Turtle

Terrapene ornata ornata

Carapace 4 - 5 inches

State Endangered

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Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata), a small dark turtle sprinkled with round yellow spots, found in Indiana wetlands
Spotted Turtle

Clemmys guttata

Carapace 3 - 4 inches

State Endangered

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Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), a dome-shelled turtle with a bright yellow throat and a notched smiling jaw, found in Indiana marshes
Blanding’s Turtle

Emydoidea blandingii

Carapace 6 - 8 inches

State Endangered

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Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina), a high-domed land turtle with orange-and-yellow blotches and a hinged closing shell, found in Indiana
Eastern Box Turtle

Terrapene carolina carolina

Carapace 5 - 6 inches

State Protected, Special Concern

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Eastern spiny softshell (Apalone spinifera), a flat leathery-shelled turtle with a long snout and small spines along the front of the shell, found in Indiana
Eastern Spiny Softshell

Apalone spinifera spinifera

Carapace 5 - 17 inches

Common

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Midland painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), a smooth dark basking turtle with red shell edges and yellow-and-red striped skin, found in Indiana
Midland Painted Turtle

Chrysemys picta marginata

Carapace 4 - 6 inches

Common

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Ouachita map turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis), a keeled river turtle with a square yellow blotch behind the eye and spots on the chin, found in Indiana
Ouachita Map Turtle

Graptemys ouachitensis

Carapace 3 - 9 inches

Uncommon

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Western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), a basking turtle with a large branching dark figure on a red-orange belly, found in Indiana
Western Painted Turtle

Chrysemys picta bellii

Carapace 4 - 9 inches

Common

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Common map turtle (Graptemys geographica), an aquatic turtle with fine maplike yellow lines on its shell and a yellow spot behind each eye, found in Indiana
Common Map Turtle

Graptemys geographica

Carapace measures 3 - 10 inches

Common

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Eastern mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum), a small plain dark aquatic turtle with a double-hinged plastron, found in Indiana wetlands
Eastern Mud Turtle

Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum

Carapace 2 - 4 inches

State Endangered

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False map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica), a sawback river turtle with dark-tipped keel spines and a yellow crescent behind the eye, found in Indiana
False Map Turtle

Graptemys pseudogeographica

Carapace 3 - 7 inches

Common

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Midland smooth softshell (Apalone mutica), a flat leathery-shelled river turtle with a smooth shell edge and long snout, found in Indiana
Midland Smooth Softshell

Apalone mutica mutica

Carapace 4 - 14 inches

Uncommon, Game Species

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Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta), a green-and-yellow striped basking turtle with a red stripe behind each eye, found in Indiana
Red-eared Slider

Trachemys scripta elegans

Carapace 7 - 9 inches

Common

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