Turtles of Georgia and South Carolina
- Photos by J.D. Willson unless otherwise noted
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| The painted turtle is known for the striking yellow and red stripes on its head and neck and the red pattern on its marginal scutes. The plastron is plain pale yellow, and the carapace, which seldom measures more than 6 inches, is flattened, oval-shaped, and extremely smooth. The carapace scutes form straight rows across the back, a characteristic of this species. Adult males have enlarged, thickened tails and elongated foreclaws. The painted turtle is most commonly associated with shallow, soft-bottom ponds and marshes where aquatic vegetation is abundant and is most common in the Piedmont regions of South Carolina and Georgia. |
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Range of the Painted Turtle in our region
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Range of the Painted Turtle in the eastern U.S.A.
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