AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CLUB OF NORTH DAKOTA

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North Dakota has 5 species of turtles:

• Western Painted Turtle, Chrysemys picta bellii
• Midland Smooth Softshell, Apalone mutica
• Smooth Softshell, Apalone spinifera
• False Map Turtle, Graptemys pseudogeographica
• Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina

Western Painted Turtle

SIZE: 3-10 inches.

RANGE: Throughout the state.

HABITAT: In water.

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MIDLAND SMOOTH SOFTSHELL

SIZE: Between 5-14 inches long.

RANGE: South of Bismarck in the Missouri River.

HABITAT: Usually submerged, sometimes basking on the shore.

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EASTERN SPINY SOFTSHELL

SIZE: Between 4-16 inches long.

RANGE: South of the Garrison Dam in the Missouri River system.

HABITAT: Usually submerged but sometimes will bask on shore.

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FALSE MAP TURTLE

SIZE: Between 4-10 inches long.

RANGE: South of the Garrison Dam in the Missouri River system.

HABITAT: Usually submerged but sometimes will bask on shore/logs.

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COMMON SNAPPING TURTLE

SIZE: Between 7-19 inches long

RANGE: Throughout the state.

HABITAT: Usually submerged along the edges of ponds with just eyes and nostrils above water.

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ALSO IN THE ARCND SERIES:

• Introduction
• Salamanders of ND
• Frogs and Toads of ND
• Snakes of ND
• Lizards of ND

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REFERENCES
Information taken from:

1. Peterson's Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians, Fourth Edition (2016)
2. Crother et al.'s SCIENTIFIC AND STANDARD ENGLISH NAMES OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF NORTH AMERICA NORTH OF MEXICO, WITH COMMENTS REGARDING CONFIDENCE IN OUR UNDERSTANDING, Seventh Edition (2012)
3. ND Game and Fish's Reptiles and Amphibians of North Dakota (2015)

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Western Painted Turtle: Wikipedia
2. Midland Softshell: MDC
3. Spiny Softshell: Wikipedia
4. False Map Turtle: Wikipedia
5. Common Snapping Turtle: Original Image