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Northwest Wildlife Online
by John M. Regan
Order Testudines: The Turtles
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An endangered Western Pond Turtle, Clemmys marmorata, photographed at Northwest Trek Wildlife park. This rare specimen was brought to the park after it was found in the parking lot of a convenience store. The Western Pond Turtle once ranged from British Columbia throughout the Northwest and into California.
A Painted Turtle, Chyrsemys picta, suns itself in the upper left photo. On the right, a pair of Red Eared Pond Sliders, Trachemys scripta, stretch out. The bottom photo in the center is a nice comparison shot of the two species. The Painted Turtle lacks the distinctive red marking on the side of the head. Also note the red coloration on the plastron of the Painted Turtle, (more noticeable when the animal is turned over) and the more arched carapace of the Slider's shell.
Order Testudines - Turtles
Family Emydidae - Water and Box Turtles:
Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picto) - Up to 10 inches long; smooth shell normally black in color, yellow stripes along the head; the plastron has a distinctive reddish color
Western Pond Turtle (Clemmys marmorata) - 4-9 inches; olive brown to black in color; noticeably speckled
Family Dermochelyidae - Leatherback Sea Turtles:
Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) - The giant of the Testudines; up to 8 feet in length and weights of 1600 pounds; the largest turtle on earth; feeds primarily on jellyfish
Family Cheloniidae - True Sea Turtles:
Green Turtle - Chelonia mydas - Five feet in length and reported to weigh as much as 600 pounds; sometimes called the Black Sea Turtle
How can you not love turtles? Something about the grumpy, yet innocent face peaking out from that beautiful shell is irresistible. And the hatchlings? Guaranteed to produce an "aaaw" from the most hardened cynic.
Unfortunately, this attractive appearance has led to the untimely demise of thousands of young turtles. Once very popular items in nearly every pet shop in the US this practice was stopped some years ago due to the possibility that the little reptiles were disease vectors. Turtle sales, both as a restaurant item and a pet, continue in many parts of the world.
Those problems aside, however, most turtle species are still quite successful. Inhabitants of the earth before and after the dinosaurs, some member of the order Testudines is still present in every freshwater, saltwater, and terrestrial environment throughout the earth's tropic and temperate zones. Land dwelling species are generally referred to as tortoises while the aquatic species are called terrapins or turtles.
A turtle is instantly recognizable as a turtle thanks to its most distinctive feature - the shell or carapace. The carapace is not a separate structure encasing the animal inside. Composed of thick, hard scales (dermal plates) it is directly fused to the vertebrae and ribs of the turtle. Though a very limiting structure for land locomotion, it provides exceptionally effective protection. The bottom of the turtle shell is called the plastron.
All turtles share two other distinctive features: they all lay eggs and are the only species of reptile without teeth, making due with a hard, serrated beak. Most turtles are blessed with long lives, too. The Sychelles Giant Tortoise is believed to have hit the 200 year mark. An Aldabra Tortoise in an India zoo had reportedly lived well beyond 200 years since the animal was recorded as a gift during the time of the British rule in India.
We have no giant tortoises here and our Northwestern region is not so fortunate in turtle numbers or variety of species overall. Family Emydidae, the Water and Box Turtles are a widespread, diverse family of turtles. More than 100 species live in numerous countries throughout the world. Exceptionally common in other parts of the US (I've seen Painted turtles lined up by the dozens on choice logs and rocks east of the Mississippi), they are downright hard to find in our climate. Emydidae are related to land tortoises, but our species, the Western Pond Turtle and the Painted Turtle are entirely aquatic.
The Sea Turtle families, Dermochelyidae, Leatherback Sea Turtles and Cheloniidae, the - True Sea Turtles are rare sights and generally inhabit warmer waters. You are much more apt to find one of our terrestrial turtles. But don't give up hope. Both Green Sea Turtles and Leatherback Turtles have been reported as far north as Alaska. Can you imagine the thrill of seeing a 1600 pound Leatherback?
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