Box turtles live near ponds and streams. They like muddy areas and frequently end up in backyards. Unlike other freshwater turtles, box turtles have the same shell shape as tortoises. Look for the color markings and the small, flat feet to tell them apart.
Painted turtles tend to live in areas with shallow water, sloping logs, and flat rocks. It isn’t uncommon to see a painted turtle sunbathing! Tell painted turtles apart from other species by looking for the markings. Red-bellied cooters, for instance, often have red streaks across the top of their shells. Red-eared sliders are another common species, but they have red streaks behind their eyes.
These turtles live in slow-moving, muddy-bottomed rivers as well as reed-covered areas near lakes and ponds. They are common in the eastern and southern U. S.
Mud turtles live in warm, muddy areas with streams, marshes, and other slow-moving water. They usually crawl along the bottom and go onto land more often than musk turtles. They are common in areas like the eastern and southern U. S.
Map turtles tend to live in a broad range of areas, including cooler climates. For example, they can live anywhere from Ontario, Canada to Alabama, U. S. Map turtles usually prefer larger water sources like lakes and rivers. Many other freshwater turtles stick to shallow waters with lots of plants and sunlight.
These turtles tend to live near gravel-bottomed streams and lakes. They prefer mud and sand to hide in when they aren’t swimming. These turtles can live in a wide variety of places, including cooler climates. For instance, they are common in Minnesota in the U. S. since it has lots of streams and lakes.
Snapping turtles live near muddy-bottomed freshwater with a lot of plant cover. They can be found all across the U. S. and Canada but are most common in the east.
Some spurred tortoises are common in grassy areas in southern Africa. They enjoy warm weather but eat a lot of plants. The most recognizable species is the African Spurred tortoise, but another common one is the Mediterranean spur-tight or Greek tortoise. It is smaller, with an olive-colored shell that is a little spiky. It lives in the Mediterranean like in Greece and northern Africa. Tortoises, in general, have elephant-like clawed feet that help them walk over rough ground. Freshwater turtles have flat feet for swimming, while sea turtles have flippers.
Russian, or Horsfield’s, tortoises, are commonly found in Russia but live in places like Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. They like dry or sandy areas, particularly ones more than 5,000 ft (1,500 m) high.
Indian star tortoises live in areas like India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. [10] X Research source Another type of patterned tortoise is the leopard tortoise, which has a brown shell with black spots instead of stars. It lives in eastern and southern Africa, so it is easy to distinguish from star tortoises.
Hermann’s tortoises live in similar areas to Greek tortoises. They can be found around the Mediterranean, particularly in Europe.
Remember that all sea turtles have flippers instead of clawed feet. It can help you distinguish a leatherback from other smooth species like softshells. Sea turtles will always be in the ocean and only come up on land to nest.
For instance, hawksbill turtles have a slightly pointed head similar to a bird’s beak, which can help you distinguish them from the more common loggerheads. Loggerheads live in warm waters close to the coast, so they can be found from Argentina all the way up to Canada.
Green turtles also have short necks with rounded heads and eyes that look half-closed. Their skin has big, brown blotches that look like shell plates. These turtles live in warm and tropical waters. They can be found around the world, including in spots like the Caribbean. Green turtles are the only type of sea turtle to exclusively eat plants.
Olive ridleys have a pretty wide range and are the most common type of sea turtle. They can be found in tropical waters near India, Japan, South America, Africa, and many other areas. There is a similar turtle called a Kemp’s ridley, but it has 5 scutes on its shell. This type of turtle also lives in a limited area, such as in the Gulf of Mexico. Seeing one is rare.
