painted turtle

Eastern PaintedTurtle
(Chrysemys picta)

NH Conservation Status: Not listed

State Rank Status: Widespread and abundant.

Distribution: Throughout state, less common in northern New Hampshire.

Description:A 4-6 inch turtle with a smooth carapace and light lines running across the back (created from the straight rows of the large scutes on the back). The head and neck streaked with red and yellow stripes. There are two yellow spots behind each eye.

Commonly Confused Species: None

Habitat: Wetland areas with an abundance of vegetation and basking areas such as shallow ponds, marshes, bogs, slow-moving streams, and lakeshores. Often seen basking on partially submerged logs or rocks in large groups.

Life History: Nest usually close to water’s edge in sandy or loamy area with open canopy. Typically 5-8 eggs are deposited in shallow, excavated depressions. Up to 2 clutches may be laid in a year. Hibernate in mud bottoms or under submerged logs.

Conservation Threats: Road mortality, increased abundance of subsidized predators (e.g., raccoons), collection, and habitat loss & degradation.

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/Nongame/turtles/painted_turtle.htm

Published on May 4, 2012

We found these turtles sunning themselves on a small pond.

The Western Painted Turtle is named after the bright yellow stripes on its head, neck, tail and legs, and the glowing red on its plastron (shell covering the belly) and under-edge of its carapace (shell covering the back).

Most adult Painted Turtles spend the winter hibernating in the mud at the bottom of ponds and lakes. Once temperatures warm up and the ice leaves the water, Painted Turtle courtship begins.

In B.C., Painted Turtles are found in pockets throughout the southern interior, as far north as Golden. This includes the Okanagan Valley, Kamloops Lake, Shuswap Lake, and the Creston and Nelson Area.

At present, the Western Painted Turtle is on the provincial blue list. This means they are considered vulnerable to habitat loss, and susceptible to human and natural disturbances. Habitat is being lost because of pollution and waterway interference due to damming, agriculture, and urbanization of waterfronts.

Published on Jun 12, 2013

A thoroughly multi-perspective, educational look at an exceedingly patient Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta belli). Photographed at the Rydell NWR, Minnesota (11 June 2013).

Published on Jan 3, 2014

Western Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii) swimming and sunning themselves. Any camera shake comes from the fact that all this footage was taken from a distance while in a boat.

The western painted turtle is the largest subspecies of painted turtle and perhaps the most colorful with an ornamented bottom shell with red hues in it.

Music: "Old Man Blanchard" by Josh Woodward ~ http://www.joshwoodward.com/

Published on Nov 16, 2012

This video is of the western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) This a juvenile was found in south-central BC. Relatively common speices throughout it's range: in canada it's found through southern british columbia, alberta, saskatchewan, manitoba, and ontario. Watch in HD!