Painted turtles are North American turtles, found from southern Canada to northern Mexico.
Species Appearance
Painted turtles are brightly marked. They have a smooth shell about 10 to 18 cm long. The turtle has a relatively flat upper shell with red and yellow markings on a black or greenish brown background.
Risks to the Species
Collecting (for food and the pet trade) and deforestation are the major threats to this turtle. Their natural predators include crocodiles, birds, and mammals.
Painted turtles feed mainly on plants, small animals, and some carrion. They also feed on insects. Lacking teeth, the turtle jaw has tough, horny plates for gripping food.
Breeding of the Species
In the early summer the female lays 4 to 15 oval, soft-shelled eggs, in a flask-shaped hole. The breeding season lasts from late spring to early summer.
