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 4 to 5 inches[1]. 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 [2] . 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
Young spotted turtles are mostly carnivorous, eating insects, such as crickets, worms, snails and fish. As spotted turtles age they will consume some vegetation, such as anachris and other water plants, but adults' diets will primarily consists of protein-rich foods: insects, fish, snails, and crusteceans. All food that is consumed is done so underwater, as spotted turtles, like other aquatic species, cannot swallow food out of water. Spotted turtles will hunt on land, however, and bring their catch back into the water for consumption.
In captivity, spotted turtles will readily take crickets, superworms, red wigglers, nightcrawlers, June bugs, feeder fish, such as rosy minnows, and commercial aquatic turtle food.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Kindersley, Dorling (2001,2005). Animal. New York City: DK Publishing. ISBN 0-7894-7764-5.
- ^ 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]
