Spotted Turtle

Taxobox
name = Spotted Turtle
status = VU
status_system = iucn2.3

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image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Testudines
familia = Emydidae
genus = "Clemmys"
species = "C. guttata"
binomial = "Clemmys guttata"
binomial_authority = (Schneider, 1792)

The Spotted Turtle, "Clemmys guttata", is a small turtle with a shell that can grow between 4 to 5 inchescite book |last=Kindersley |first= Dorling |year=2001,2005 |title=Animal |location=New York City |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=0-7894-7764-5] . Their upper shell, or carapace, ranges in color from black to a blue-ish black with a number of yellow or cream-colored tiny round spots. Spotted Turtles inhabit a variety of shallow, fresh-water areas such as marshes, wet meadows, bogs, and woodland streams in the Eastern U.S. (the eastern Great Lakes and east of the Appalachian Mountains) and southern Canada (Ontario). Many Spotted turtles are used as pets (however this practice is illegal in many jurisdictions, including Canada, due to their threatened status) but aren't as popular as the Red Eared Slider.

Adult males have brown eyes and a tan chin; adult females have orange eyes and a yellow chin.

Taxonomy

Until recently, the genus "Clemmys" consisted of four species (Bog Turtle, Spotted Turtle, Western Pond Turtle, and the Wood Turtle). Recent genetic analyses have revealed that the Spotted Turtle is distinct from the other three species [Feldman, C.R. and J.F. Parham. 2002. Molecular phylogenetics of Emydine turtles: taxonomic revision and the evolution of shell kinesis. "Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution" 22:388-398.] . The Bog Turtle and the Wood Turtle were moved to the genus "Glyptemys", while the Western Pond Turtle has been re-named "Actinemys". This makes the Spotted Turtle the sole member of the genus "Clemmys".

Diet

Young spotted turtles are mostly carnivorous, eating insects, such as crickets, worms, snails and fish. As spotted turtles age they will consume some vegetation, such as anachris and other water plants, but adults' diets will primarily consists of protein-rich foods: insects, fish, snails, and crusteceans. All food that is consumed is done so underwater, as spotted turtles, like other aquatic species, cannot swallow food out of water. Spotted turtles will hunt on land, however, and bring their catch back into the water for consumption.

In captivity, spotted turtles will readily take crickets, superworms, red wigglers, nightcrawlers, June bugs, feeder fish, such as rosy minnows, and commercial aquatic turtle food.

Notes

References

* Listed as Vulnerable (VU A1cd+2cd v2.3)

External links

*ARKive - [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/reptiles/Clemmys_guttata/ images and movies of the spotted turtle "(Clemmys guttata)"]
*Barney - [http://www.geocities.com/bstateob/turtle.html heartwarming spotted turtle story by Tom Devine]
*"Developing a Habitat Suitability Model for the Spotted Turtle Using a Hybrid-Deductive Approach" by Bryan Correa-Berger [http://de.scientificcommons.org/23058477]