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Lettuce dive into the details of the unique and utterly adorable Spotted Turtle. You might even know them by their other name… Clemmys guttata. If not – do not fear. By the end of this article, you will know them so well, you might even think they are your second cousin.
These full of life critters are reptiles. What is a reptile you might ask?! Reptiles breathe air. Their bodies are covered in scales, that shed so they can grow. They cannot maintain internal body temperature SO they use the sun and shade to warm up or cool down. Reptiles are pretty much the definition of Michiganders in the middle of winter.
From the tip of their nose to the end of their tail, Spotted Turtles are a dark brown/black color. But what really makes them stand out in the turtle community are their yellow/orange spots. Each turtle has a different amount of spots. Some will gain more as they age, similar to how we grow freckles or age spots. Others have almost no markings at all. And few are absolutely covered in spots from the moment their cute little heads peek out of their shells. But all earn the name Spotted Turtle nonetheless.
These bundles of spunk are on the small side – reaching from 3.5” to 5.5” in length. Male and females in appearance might look the same at first, but there are a few notable differences. Male shells (or carapace) are typically more elongated, they also have longer tails. The male eyes are a brownish color, while the females stand out with their radiant orange-colored eyes. Not to mention, females are usually larger in size.
This species is mostly found near swamps, ponds, and other small bodies of water as they are semiaquatic; meaning they live partially on land and partially in the water. A little less specifically they live along the East Coast of the United States and around Michigan and Canada. That means there could be some living right in your backyard! Pretty cool, ay?
Spotted Turtles are omnivorous, meaning that they eat both plants and meat. Though they prefer to feed on fish, snails, worms, slugs, spiders, etc. Really anything that ends up in the water and can fit in their mouths.
The sunlight hours are dedicated to eating and soaking in the sun’s heat. When the sun sets they swim to the bottom of their water source. As I’m sure you know, resting underwater can be quiet peaceful. But they do this for more than a goodnight of sleep. The night is when their predators are most active. Hiding in the water can help their chances of survival.
Like many other species, springtime is mating time. This is the time of year that males are most active, frantically chasing after females in efforts to keep their species going. After the mating season is done – females will go off in search of nesting areas. Once a female finds the perfect location, she will dig a small hole to lay her eggs in. Typically females will lay 3-6 eggs at a time. Once the eggs are laid, she will cover them up with dirt and then uses her body to smooth out the dirt in efforts to better hide her young while they grow. After 11 months the tiny turtles will emerge from their shells and dig their way up to the surface, ready to find water and food.
In the wild, Spotted Turtles can live up to 25-30 years. They have been introduced into the pet market – and in captivity have even been noted for living up to 50 years. But captivity also prevents reproduction, which is one of the main reasons this species is endangered.
The Spotted Turtle faces many challenges, from habitat loss to predators (like raccoons and muskrats), getting hit by cars, and even cars especially when females migrate to build nests for their young. Though the challenges they face are devastating there are groups that are helping improve their numbers and build safe havens for this species.
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