Spotted turtle in exhibit

Spotted Turtle

Scientific Name
Clemmys guttata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Testudines
Range
Eastern North America and parts of Canada
Habitat
Marshes and other wetlands
Estimated Wild Population
n/a
Spotted turtle in exhibit Endangered Status Graph - Endangered Endangered Status Graph - Endangered

More Information

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.

Did You Know?

The sex of hatchlings is dependent on incubation temperature. Lower temperatures result in male offspring and higher temperatures result in female offspring.

These smaller turtles are especially vulnerable on land, where they often fall prey to raccoons.

It takes a decade for these turtles to reach sexual maturity.

Species Survival Plan logo

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®.

Learn More

SAFE: Saving animals From Extinction logo

Saving Animals From Extinction

AZA SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction focuses the collective expertise within AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and leverages their audiences to save species.

Learn More

Animal Care staff working with seal

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.

Learn More

Support Your Zoo

Two Chilean flamingos in exhibit

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.

Adopt an Animal

Asian small-clawed otter in exhibit

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.

Browse the Wish List

African penguin eating a fish

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.

Take Action

00:00
00:00
Empty Playlist