Identification
This subspecies can be identified by the broad red, orangish, or yellow stripe
down the middle of the carapace, which is generally plain yellowish. The plastron
is yellow or flesh colored, sometimes with one or two black spots. All painted
turtles have black or olive skin with yellow stripes on the upper neck, legs,
and tail. Also, the upper jaw is notched and has two tooth-like projections.
Distribution and Status
The natural range of this subspecies is from extreme southern Illinois through
the Gulf; southwestern Alabama to southeast Oklahoma. The turtles are absent
from north central Alabama and southern Mississippi through adjacent Lousiana.
There is also an isolated colony in central Texas. In the Midwest, the Southern
Painted Turtle lives only in Missouri. (US
distribution map; Midwest
distribution map).
Ecology
Painted turtles live in slow-moving permanent bodies of water, preferring a
soft bottom, abundant aquatic plant life, and places to bask such as rocks,
logs, or floating vegetation. They have been known to occupy other bodies of
water such as ditches, and occasionally moderately moving streams or rivers.
Painted turtles are not afraid to move about on land to move to and from water
sources.
Threats and Management Issues
In the wild, many predators prey upon Painted Turtles of all life stages, raccoons
being chief among them. Human interaction such as habitat destruction, use of
pesticides, exploitation in the pet trade, as well as death by firearms and
automobiles are the turtle’s biggest threats.
Resources
Ernst. C. H., J. E. Lovich and R. W. Barbour. 1994. Turtles of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, USA.
General reference guides and websites.
Bruce Kingsbury, Director
Center for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation and Management
Science Building
Indiana-Purdue University
2101 East Coliseum Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499