Tortoises and Turtles of Utah

Both turtles and tortoises belong to the order Testudines and are identifiable by their unique and protective shell. While all tortoises are technically turtles, not all turtles are tortoises. Turtles are adapted to living in water and tortoises are adapted to living on land. 

In Utah, there is only one species of tortoise that is native to the area, the Mojave Desert Tortoise. All other species of turtle are non-native. One of the most significant factors that has contributed to non-native populations in Utah is through illegally released pets.

Click on the names or photos below to learn more and see additional photos. 

Tortoises

Mojave Desert Tortoise-Gopherus agassizii

Turtles

Spiny Softshell Turtle-Apalone spinifera

Non-native

Common Snapping Turtle-Chelydra serpentina

Non-native

Western Painted Turtle-Chrysemys picta bellii

Non-native

Red-Eared Slider-Trachemys scripta elegans

Non-native