Clemmys guttata

Description

The spotted turtle is a small species with a hard, black shell patterned with yellow or orange dots. The maximum size of this species is only 14.3 cm in carapace length.  Males and females are the same size, but males have dark irises and black chins with orange spots, while females have light amber-brown irises and orange chins with small black spots.  Nesting occurs in June, when females lay a small clutch of one to five eggs.  Some females nest every year, and in rare cases a female may lay two clutches of eggs in a single summer.  Spotted turtles are thought to take 20-30 years to mature. Spotted turtles feed on a wide variety of invertebrates, carrion and vegetation.

Habitat

Spotted turtles prefer very shallow wetland habitats including fens, bogs and shallow streams and marshes, and they are not usually found in water deeper than one metre.  They are the most cold-tolerant Ontario turtle species and are the first to emerge to bask in the spring, sometimes basking next to mounds of melting snow.  Shortly after emerging from hibernation burrows in spring, adults congregate at favoured ponds to mate.  Females lay eggs in soil and leaf litter in wooded areas close to wetlands. Turtles remain active until the fall when they again form groups and hibernate underground.

Distribution and Population Size

The spotted turtle occurs in eastern North America, from Maine and Ontario south to Florida, and west to Michigan.  In Canada, spotted turtles are considered extirpated from Quebec, and are only found in small, isolated populations in Ontario. There are thought to be about 2,000 individuals left in Canada, and many of the remaining Canadian populations contain less than 50 reproductive individuals. Remaining populations are believed to be declining and the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada has listed this species as endangered.

Threats to Survival

Major threats to spotted turtles include habitat destruction, illegal collection for the pet trade, population fragmentation and road mortality.  Nest predation may also be a threat in some populations.  Recovery of this species is complicated by the long generation time and by the fact that these turtles do not travel long distances, leaving the remaining populations permanently isolated from one another.

What you can do to help

• Make a contribution today towards WPC’s Freshwater Turtle recovery activities.

• Every year, turtles must cross busy roads to get to their nesting sites – watch for turtles on the roads, especially between May and October.

• Never buy native species of turtles or any turtles that have been caught in the wild.

• Don’t disturb nests, young or adults – be respectful and observe from a distance.

• Help reverse the loss of turtle habitat by protecting or restoring wetlands and surrounding vegetation on your property.