The Reptiles and Amphibians of Utah

Description: The carapace is brown, olive, or black with a serrated rear edge. The plastron is yellow or tan with large dark blotches. The head, limbs, and tail are black, brown, olive, or green with numerous yellow stripes. There is a red patch on each side of the head behind the eyes. Juveniles may be more heavily patterned with thin yellow and green lines on the carapace that fade with age. Adult males have large front claws, a concave plastron and get darker with age.  

Size: A medium-sized turtle with an average shell length of 10 to 12 inches in length. Males are smaller than females. 

Range and Habitat: This turtle has well-established populations throughout the state. They are most commonly encountered along the Wasatch Front, Cache Valley, Washington County, and near Moab. It inhabits lakes, ponds, marshes, canals, and other slow-moving water sources with soft bottoms, abundant aquatic plants, and partially submerged logs.

Similar Species: The Western Painted Turtle lacks a red patch on the sides of its head. It has a red plastron with a large dark central pattern. Its carapace has a smooth rear edge.