Spotted Turtle

Clemmys guttata

Please report your sighting of this Threatened species as soon as possible.

Report Observation

On this page:

Photo: Trevor Persons

Distinguishing Characteristics

Photo: Trevor Persons

  • Small, carapace (upper part of the shell) approx. 4 to 5.5 inches in length
  • Carapace black with distinct, bright yellow spots
  • Limbs are black on top with yellow spots, yellowish orange below
  • Plastron (bottom part of the shell) yellowish with large black blotches

Back to top

Status and Distribution in Maine

View Map (PDF)

  • State Threatened; Species of Greatest Conservation Need
  • Rare
  • Southern and central regions

Back to top

Habitat

Photo: Trevor Persons

  • Aquatic habitat includes slow streams, wet meadows, bogs, ponds, vernal pools, marshes, shrub swamps, and roadside ditches
  • Habitats usually with abundant sphagnum moss
  • Spends period of summer inactive under leaf litter in forested areas near wetlands

Back to top

Diet

  • Omnivorous, eats small vertebrates, invertebrates, and vegetation
  • Makes annual trips to vernal pools to feed on breeding amphibians

Back to top

Seasonal Changes

  • Hibernate under hummocks or among shrub roots in red maple swamps and other wetlands

Back to top

Natural History Notes

  • Can travel great distances over the course of a year, up to 1.7 miles. Nests in loose substrate within 400 feet of water
  • In some areas, has been negatively impacted by illegal collection for the pet trade

Back to top

Share Your Sighting

Please report this Threatened species as soon as possible!

There is much still to learn about the distribution and ecology of Maine's herpetofauna, and we encourage members of the public to share their photo-documented observations as part of the Maine Amphibian & Reptile Atlas Project (MARAP).

Submit your reptile or amphibian observation online

No service? No problem. Click here to download the survey to your device while connected, then take offline to collect observations from anywhere. Tip: The survey works best on Google Chrome and Safari.

Thank you for doing your part to help conserve Maine's reptiles and amphibians. For more information, please contact derek.yorks@maine.gov .

Back to top