Turtles of the United States and Canada

Conservation of the turtles of the United States and Canada

Identification of the turtles of the United States and Canada

Cheloniidae: marine turtles

Chelydridae: snapping turtles

Dermochelyidae: leatherback seaturtles

Emydidae: Semiaquatic pond and marsh turtles

Kinosternidae: mud and musk turtles

Testudinidae: tortoises

Trionychidae: softshell turtles.

Introduction

Identification of turtles: Key to the turtles of the United States and Canada

Chelydridae (snapping turtles): Chelydra serpentina, snapping turtle. Macroclemys temminckii, alligator snapping turtle

Cheloniidae (marine turtles): Chelonia mydas, green turtle. Eretmochelys imbricata, hawksbill. Caretta caretta, loggerhead. Lepidochelys kempii, Kemp's ridley or Atlantic ridley. Lepidochelys olivacea, Pacific ridley or olive ridley

Dermochelyidae (leatherback sea turtles): Dermochelys coriacea, leatherback or luth

Trionychidae (soft-shelled turtles): Trionyx muticus, smooth softshell. Trionyx spiniferus, spiny softshell. Trionyx ferox, Florida softshell. Trionyx sinensis, Chinese softshell. Trionyx steindachneri, wattle-necked softshell

Kinosternidae (musk and mud turtles): Stenotherus odoratus, stinkpot or common musk turtle. Stenotherus depressus, flattened musk turtle. Stenotherus minor, loggerhead musk turtle. Stenotherus carinatus, razorback musk turtle. Kinosternon subrubrum, Eastern mud turtle.

(cont) Kinosternon baurii, striped mud turtle. Kinosternon flavescens, yellow mud turtle. Kinosternon sonoriense, Sonoran mud turtle. Kinosternon hirtipes, Mexican mud turtle

Emydidae (semiaquatic pond and marsh turtles): Clemmys Guttata, spotted turtle. Clemmys muhlenbergii, bog turtle. Clemmys insculpta, wood turtle. Clemmys marmorata, Western pond turtle. Emydoidea blandingii, Blanding's turtle. Terrapene carolina, Eastern box turtle. Terrapene ornata, ornate box turtle. Chrysemys picta, painted turtle. Trachemys scripta, slider. Trachemys gaigeae, Big Bend slider. Pseudemys concinna, river cooter. Pseudemys gorzugi, Rio Grande cooter. Pseudemys floridana, cooter. Pseudemys rubriventris, red-bellied turtle. Pseudemys nelsoni, Florida red-bellied turtle. Pseudemys alabamensis, Alabama red-bellied turtle. Pseudemys texana, Texas river cooter. Deirochelys reticularia, chicken turtle. Graptemys geographica, common map turtle. Graptemys barbouri, Barbour's map turtle. Graptemys pulchra, Alabama map turtle. Graptemys ernsti, Escambia map turtle.

(cont) Graptemys gibbonsi, Pascagoula map turtle. Graptemys caglei, Cagle's map turtle. Graptemys pseudogeographica, false map turtle. Graptemys ouachitensis, Ouachita map turtle. Graptemys versa, Texas map turtle. Graptemys oculifera, ringed map turtle. Graptemys flavimaculata, yellow-blotched map turtle. Graptemys nigrinoda, black-knobbed map turtle. Malaclemys terrapin, diamondback terrapin

Testudinidae (tortoises): Gopherus agassizii, desert tortoise. Gopherus berlandieri, Texas tortoise. Gopherus polyphemus, gopher tortoise

Glossary of scientific names.