Spotted Turtle
Scientific Name
Class
Order
Range
Habitat
Estimated Wild Population
More Information
Physical Description
Spotted turtles have smooth, dark shells peppered with yellow spots. While their head is mostly dark, their face has lighter coloration and a few spots. Males and females differ in appearance. Males are more elongated, with larger tails, while females have rounder carapaces and are slightly larger than males overall. They eat a range of food, from aquatic seeds and greenery to worms, eggs, and carrion.
Interesting Fact 1
The sex of hatchlings is dependent on incubation temperature. Lower temperatures result in male offspring and higher temperatures result in female offspring.
Interesting Fact 2
These smaller turtles are especially vulnerable on land, where they often fall prey to raccoons.
Interesting Fact 3
It takes a decade for these turtles to reach sexual maturity.
Species Survival Plan®
We cooperate with other members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to manage the zoo population of this species through a Species Survival Plan®.
Saving Animals From Exctinction
AZA SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction focuses the collective expertise within AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and leverages their audiences to save species.
Commitment to Care
Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.
Support Your Zoo
Animals Depend On People Too
When you ADOPT an animal, you support world-class animal care by helping to provide specially formulated diets, new habitat elements, and regular veterinary checkups.
Wish List
The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.
Take Action With Us
Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.
