Turtle Species of Ontario and the Kawarthas

SNAPPING TURTLE:

Chelydra s. serpentina

Snapping turtles show up in the strangest places. We commonly get calls about snapping turtles under docks, in windows wells, in gardens and even "at my front door." We say "Lucky you!"
The Snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle native to Ontario. It has a round flat shell with serrated edges at the rear. The legs are massive. The feet are webbed and have long sharp claws. The tail is long with a row of "spikes" on the top lending a prehistoric look. The head and jaws are huge and capable of delivering a powerful bite and lighting fast strike with the help of the long and powerful neck. They have a small belly plate (or plastron) leaving a lot of skin exposed. This lack of protection accounts for the nasty disposition when on dry land.
Snappers are thoroughly aquatic and leave water only to nest and migrate. As with all turtle species in Ontario the snapper is in decline but still present in strong numbers in many locations. Once commercially hunted for meat it has been listed as a "Species of Special Concern" by the federal and Ontario governments (Aug 2009.)

BLANDINGS TURTLE:

Emydoidea blandingii

Ontario's smiling turtle. Blandings turtle is a semi-aquatic species that inhabits ponds, marshes and other wetland habitats, shore lines of lakes, streams and rivers. Blandings spend time on land usually while migrating from one seasonal habitat to another. Home ranges can be large and include several habitat types. Blandings turtle is a medium sized turtle with an oval shaped, domed shell that is usually dark brown to black with a light speckling of spots in an irregular and variable pattern. The head is smallish and black on top. The neck is quit long and the throat is bright yellow and makes for an excellent identification marker in the wild.
Blandings turtle is in decline in Ontario. There are still strong populations that exist in the province but many populations are small and disconnected. Habitat loss and development as well as nest predation by animals such as raccoons and skunks, and road death are most likely the main reasons for the decline of this species. Blandings turtle is listed as threatened in Ontario. It is currently a protected in Ontario under MNR regulations from collection and possession.

MIDLAND PAINTED TURTLE:

Chrysemys picta marginata

If you have seen a bunch of turtles on a log then chances are you have seen a Painted turtle. The sun loving Midland Painted Turtle is a familiar inhabitant of lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and wetlands in Ontario. It is an aquatic species coming to land only to nest and migrate. The shell is green above and bright yellow below with a central dark blotch. the upper shell is fairly flat and flares at the rear margin. The under side of the margins of the shell have patterns of red and black and appear to have been painted on hence the turtles name. The head is green with yellow stripes and spots and the stripes turn to red on the legs. The feet are webbed.
Painted turtles are excellent swimmers and avid baskers which is why they are so conspicuous as they will gather in large numbers on a site such as a fallen log, to bask. Painted turtles are still plentiful in Ontario but their habitat as with all species is disappearing and disjointed. Painted turtles are protected from collection and ownership in Ontario under MNR regulations. Two subspecies, the Western Painted (C.p.bellii) and the Midland Painted (C.p.marginata) live in Ontario.

NORTHERN MAP TURTLE:

Graptemys geographica

The Northern Map turtle has a low shell with a serrated rear margin. The shell is brown in colour and has an intricate network of map like yellow lines giving it its name. The feet are large and fully webbed and it is an excellent swimmer. The Map turtle inhabits large bodies of water in and around the Great Lakes. It has large crushing surface in its mouth that helps it eat its preferred prey of crustaceans and mollusks. Map turtles like to bask on logs and deadfalls but are very wary and flee to the water at the slightest movement. The status of the Map turtle is listed as special concern. Map turtles are protected from collection and ownership in Ontario under MNR regulations.

COMMON MUSK TURTLE (aka: Stinkpot)

Sternotherus odoratus

The Common Stinkpot is anything but common in Ontario. So small and shy these turtles are seldom seen. Also know as the Musk turtle it is one of the worlds smallest turtles seldom growing much longer than 4 inches. Adults have an oval shaped, smooth, domed shell that is black to brown with or without some streaking. The skin is black to gray and there is a yellow stripe around the top of the head. The head is conical in shape and appears to have a heavy overbite. There are two small barbels under the chin. The feet are webbed but small and the legs are short. The belly (or plastron) is smaller than the top shell leaving a lot of skin exposed. There is light coloured skin between the scutes of the plastron. The tail is very short in females and longer in males. They are thoroughly aquatic rarely leaving the water. Musk turtles inhabit many different types of aquatic habitats but prefer still shallow water with plenty of aquatic vegetation such as lily pads. They are good swimmers but prefer to walk along the bottom to forage for crustaceans and insects. In Ontario numbers are in decline due to habitat loss. Musk turtles are protected from collection and ownership in Ontario under MNR regulations. Listed as threatened in Ontario.

WOOD TURTLE:

Glyptemys Insculpta

The shell of the Wood turtle is grooved with concentric growth rings and radiating striations. This along with the dark brown colouration give the shell the appearance of a piece of wood hence the turtles name. It is semi-terrestrial, spending time on land during the summer months inhabiting fields and forests near streams, and returning to streams and rivers in fall hibernates over winter. Mating also occurs in the water. Wood turtles in Ontario are in decline due to habitat loss and over collection. It is listed as endangered in Ontario by MNR regulations from collection and possession.

The "Wood Turtle Recovery Team" is currently working on a conservation plan for Wood turtles in Ontario.

SPOTTED TURTLE:

Clemmys Guttata

The Spotted Turtle is instantly recognizable by its small size, smooth black shell with conspicuous bright yellow spots spattered about the shell like polka dots. This is a turtle of swamps, bogs, fens, and vernal pools. It is an aquatic species with some terrestrial tendencies. Spotted turtles are in decline in Ontario due to habitat loss and over collection. Some are lost to road death where roads intersect traditional migration routes. Some healthy populations still exist in the province but many populations are small and disconnected due to land and wetland alteration and development. The Spotted turtle is currently listed as a "endangered" in Canada. It is protected in Ontario by MNR regulations from collection and possession. A plan for conservation of this species in Ontario is currently being formulated.

THE EASTERN SPINY SOFT-SHELL:

Apalone spinifera spinifera

The Eastern Spiny Soft-Shelled Turtle is a highly aquatic species that lives in rivers and shorelines of large lakes. It prefers soft bottoms or light gravel to facilitate its habit of laying buried with just the eyes showing in order to ambush passing prey with a lighting strike buy the very long neck. The soft-shell lacks the horny plates on its shell that most turtles have. Instead its shell is soft and leathery hence its name. The feet are large and webbed belaying a thoroughly aquatic existence. They make landfall only to nest and do so quite close to water. There are a series of tubercle like bumps on the leading edge of the shell giving it the name spiny. Like the snapping turtle the bottom shell is small and much flesh is exposed so like the snappers the soft-shell is aggressive on land and can deliver a nasty bite. They are excellent swimmers and can move very fast in water. Soft-shells are listed threatened in Canada and protected by MNR regs. in Ontario. The "Eastern Spiny Soft-shell Recovery Team" has been working with this species for some years now and the future of this rare turtle is in good hands.