Scientific Name: Terrapene carolina carolina
Picture by The Ohio Dept. Of Natural Resources
This turtle is called the box turtle because it is able to raise up both the front and rear of its shell for protection. These animals are gentle during the heat of the summer. They spend the day hiding beneath rotting logs and decaying leaves and they only venture out during the mornings or evenings. The biggest threat to the eastern box turtle are drivers who make no attempt to avoid running them over as they walk across the street. (Denny,4)
Name: Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle
The
shell of this turtle is not hard but rubbery. It is aggressive like the snapping
turtle and is a very quick swimmer. The spiny softshell turtle prefers to live in
shallow water with a muddy or sandy bottom. While in the water, this turtle will
bury itself by flipping sand and mud onto its back and by rocking from side to side.
It does not need air from the surface. This turtle gets its oxygen by pumping
water in and out of its mouth and pharynx. (Denny,6) Name:Map Turtle
The female map turtle can attain a carapace
length of 10 inches while the males seldom exceeds 5
inches. These turtles prefer to live in deep waters like lakes and large rivers.
They have very powerful jaws that aid in their consuming snails, crayfish, and
clams. They are among the last to go into hibernation and among the first to
reappear in the spring. (Denny, 3) Name: Midland Painted Turtle
These turtles are among the most commonly found turtles
in Ohio. Dozens can be seen on logs and on the banks of bodies of water during the summertime.
These turtles will not swallow food unless they are at or beneath the surface of the
water. During the winter, they burrow into the mud in deep waters. The oxygen they
need is taken out of the water through the inner lining of their mouth. (Denny,
4) Name:Red-Eared Turtle
This turtle is commonly sold in pet stores throughout Ohio.
It is called the red-eared turtle because of the reddish patch behind each eye.
(Denny, 5) Name:Snapping Turtle
The snapping turtle is the largest turtle in Ohio. They
can weigh more than 35 pounds and a carapace length of more than 14 inches. The
jaws of these turtles are very strong and can cause a lot of damage to a
carelessly placed finger. (Denny, 2)
Scientific Name: Trionyx spinifer spinifer
Picture by The Ohio Dept. Of Natural Resources
Scientific Name: Graptemys
geographica
Picture by The Ohio Dept. Of Natural Resources
Scientific Name:Chrysemys picta marginata
Picture by The Ohio Dept. Of Natural Resources
Scientific Name: Pseudemys
scripta elegans
Picture by The Ohio Dept. Of Natural Resources
Scientific Name: Chelydra serpentina
Picture by The Ohio Dept. Of Natural Resources