Turtles Native to Illinois

Painted Turtle

• The painted turtle, Chrysemys picta, belongs to a species of three extremely similar turtles including the midland painted turtle, the Western painted turtle and the Midland and Southern painted turtle. These turtles are found in quiet, grassy areas with shallow bodies of water in Illinois. They are distinguishable from their red marking that often appears on their legs. Painted turtles generally reach 18 cm in length. They are omnivorous and feed primarily on insects, plants and mollusks. They are common in Illinois and not endangered.

False Map Turtle

• The false map turtle, Graptemys pseudogeographica, is larger than the painted turtle, reaching up to 25 cm in length. They have a brown or olive appearance and live in rivers and backwaters with muddy bottoms in areas along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. False map turtles are known for being skittish. When approached, they will immediately dive into the water if they're on a river bank. They are true omnivores and consume equal amounts of plants and animals such as mollusks and insects.

Stinkpot

• The stinkpot, Sternotherus odaratus, is a small, 13 cm turtle with a brown or black shell and a brown or yellow body. Stinkpots owe their name to the secretions they release near their shell. Stinkpots spend most of their time underwater but will occasionally rise to the surface to bask in the sun. They prefer lakes, ponds, swamps and slow rivers or streams in the southern third of Illinois. Stinkpots are also omnivorous but are especially attracted to worms. Fishermen regularly snag them on their lines. Males and females have different appearances. Males are known for having a large tail with a claw attached.

Alligator Snapping Turtle

• The alligator snapping turtle is a rare, native and endangered species protected by the state of Illinois. It has a brown color with a sharp and rugged appearance. This species, known also as Macrochelys temminckii, has lost vast numbers primarily due to water pollution, predation of eggs by other animals such as raccoons and over-harvesting. Alligator snapping turtles were and are still illegally caught because they have fascinating and unique shells that are prized by collectors. It's the largest freshwater snapping turtle in the world weighing anywhere between 35 and 105 lbs. They spend the majority of their time on the bottom of deep bodies of water. Alligator snapping turtles will consume anything they find and often eat other turtles.