Illinois Turtles

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smooth softshell Apalone mutica Photo © Dr. E. O. Moll
Turtles appeared on the Earth some 230 million years ago. They lived during the age of the dinosaurs,
before there were mammals, birds, lizards, snakes or crocodiles, and continue to thrive today. Turtles
are unique among vertebrates because they possess a shell into which they can withdraw their head, neck,
limbs and tail. This ability greatly reduces their exposure to predators.
Two hundred sixty species of turtles occur worldwide. Seventeen of these species inhabit Illinois, dwelling
in forests, prairies, marshes, swamps, ponds, lakes, streams and rivers. Those aquatic species that bask are
regularly seen on sunny days lining logs and sand banks. Other species are most often encountered in the spring
while crossing highways and fields in search of new habitats, mates or nesting sites. The chief conservation
issue for turtles is the loss or alteration of critical habitats. Over-exploitation of turtles for food and the pet
trade are also serious problems in Illinois.
This poster was made possible by:
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Division of Education
Division of Natural Heritage
Illinois Department of Transportation
Text: Dr. E. O. Moll, Eastern Illinois University
Design: Illinois State Museum
I l l i n o i s
Blanding’s turtle Emydoidea blandingii Photo © Scott R. Ballard
false map turtle Graptemys pseudogeographica Photo © Dr. E. O. Moll
common musk turtle Sternotherus odoratus Photo © Dr. E. O. Moll
slider Trachemys scripta Photo © Dr. E. O. Moll
eastern box turtle Terrapene carolina Photo © Scott R. Ballard
Species List
All turtle species currently recognized in Illinois are depicted above.
Turtles are not shown in equal proportion to actual size.
Family Chelydridae
snapping turtle Chelydra serpentina
alligator snapping turtle Macrochelys temminckii
Family Emydidae
painted turtle Chrysemys picta
spotted turtle Clemmys guttata
Blanding’s turtle Emydoidea blandingii
common map turtle Graptemys geographica
Ouachita map turtle Graptemys ouachitensis
false map turtle Graptemys pseudogeographica
river cooter Pseudemys concinna
eastern box turtle Terrapene carolina
ornate box turtle Terrapene ornata
slider Trachemys scripta
Family Kinosternidae
Illinois mud turtle Kinosternon flavescens spooneri
eastern mud turtle Kinosternon subrubrum
common musk turtle Sternotherus odoratus
Family Trionychidae
smooth softshell Apalone mutica
spiny softshell Apalone spinifera
Illinois mud turtle Kinosternon flavescens spooneri Photo © Scott R. Ballard
spiny softshell Apalone spinifera Photo © Scott R. Ballard
eastern mud turtle Kinosternon subrubrum Photo © Scott R. Ballard
painted turtle Chrysemys picta Photo © Dr. E. O. Moll
Ouachita map turtle Graptemys ouachitensis Photo © Dr. E. O. Moll
river cooter Pseudemys concinna Photo © Dr. E. O. Moll
spotted turtle Clemmys guttata Photo © Dr. E. O. Moll
snapping turtle Chelydra serpentina Photo © Dr. E. O. Moll
alligator snapping turtle Macrochelys temminckii Photo © Scott R. Ballard
common map turtle Graptemys geographica Photo © William Wengelewski
ornate box turtle Terrapene ornata Photo © Scott R. Ballard
TURTL
glossary terms defined on reverse