Species profile
Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
At a glance
Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) is an IUCN Least Concern reptile regulated in 4 of 65 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Confirmed by 148,487 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Ontario, Massachusetts, and Ohio the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- The painted turtle is the most widespread native turtle in North America.
- Hatchlings can overwinter in their nest through freezing temperatures, an unusual survival feat among reptiles.
- Adults typically measure 4 to 10 inches in shell length, with females growing larger than males.
- Females can lay up to 15 eggs per clutch and may nest two or three times in a single season.
- They bask on logs and rocks for hours each day to raise their body temperature and activate digestion.
Where Painted Turtle are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Painted Turtle
Background
The painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) is the most widespread native turtle of North America. It lives in slow-moving fresh waters, from southern Canada to Louisiana and northern Mexico, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The turtle is the only species of the genus Chrysemys, which is part of the pond turtle family Emydidae. Fossils show that the painted turtle existed 15 million years ago. Four…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Painted Turtle article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other reptiles on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.