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The Division of Wildlife Resources and the University of Illinois Extension have launched the Living with Illinois Wildlife website. The site will increase Illinois residents’ appreciation of native wildlife, serve as a tool to assist you with human wildlife conflicts and will make you aware of any applicable Illinois Conservation laws. 

 
 
Spotted Turtle PDF Print E-mail

Spotted Turtle    Clemmys guttata

 

Average Length:

 

4-5 inches (males smaller)

Average Wingspan:3-5 feet (both sexes)
  
Breeding Season:
March-April
Incubation Period: 
60- 90days
Brood Size:    2-5 eggs
  
Diet:

Wild: Plant materials, insects, crayfish,

and small fish

 

Captive: Commercial turtle diet, fish,

worms, plant material

Lifespan:      
Wild: 30 years
 Captive: 
  
Status in Illinois:
Endangered

 

 

 
photo:Sara Mackey
Being camera shy....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The spotted turtle has yellow spots on a black shell with the spots often appearing to be "splatter painted". The shell has a large, immovable plastron (lower shell) which is dark in color. The turtle's head has scattered yellow spots on the upper side. 

 

Spotted Turtles are found only in two main areas, the Eastern Seaboard and the Great Lakes region. Spotted turtles are an Illinois endangered species with the only known population being in Will County. This turtle is the smallest (adult) species found in Illinois. Spotteds prefer boggy wetlands of clean, shallow, slow moving water with muddy bottoms.  Loss of habitat (due to the growth of urban areas) is the main cause of the species' endangered status, although natural succession of wetland areas can also affect it. Three populations of spotted turtles are known in Illinois, and two of them are protected.

 

After being rescued from cranberry nets in Massachusetts, the Park's spotted turtles came to us via migrant workers.

Last Updated ( Sunday, 23 March 2008 )
 
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