Family: Emydidae, Pond and Box Turtles view all from this family

Description Males 4-6 1/4" (10.2-15.9 cm); females, 7-10 3/4" (17.8-27.3 cm). Carapace greenish to olive-brown, with reticulated pattern of thin yellow-orange lines (obscure in adult females); somewhat flattened and with a low keel (with small spines in juveniles). Plastron yellowish; patternless in adults, with black-bordered scute seams in juveniles. Skin greenish with narrow yellow stripes; an isolated yellow spot, often triangular in shape, found behind the eye. Adult females have enlarged heads.

Breeding Nests May to mid-July. Southern females lay 2 or more clutches a season (northern females, 1), of 12-14 ellipsoidal, 1 1/4" (33 mm) eggs. Hatchlings emerge mid-August through September or late May or June of following year.

Habitat Slow-moving rivers and lakes with mud bottoms, abundant aquatic vegetation, and logjams.

Range Lake George and Lake Champlain through St. Lawrence and Great Lakes drainage, south to Tennessee and Alabama; also Arkansas and Missouri river drainages. Isolated populations in Delaware River and Susquehanna River drainage.

Discussion Where common, this gregarious species can be observed stacked one upon another on a favorite basking log. Shy like other map turtles, they quickly slide into the water when disturbed. The female's large crushing jaws can break open freshwater clams and large snails. Males and juveniles eat insects, crayfish, and smaller mollusks.