Scientific Name: Chelonia mydas. What to Expect and How to Prevent. How big it can get: Most Box turtles reach sizes between 5 and 7 inches. When a species gets its status there are a lot of factors taken into consideration, not only the number of individuals still leaving. The color of the shell and the skin is usually very similar and it can usually be dark brown or balck. Besides the shape of the shell, the other most recognizable element is the pattern of the shell and skin, the pattern of the Eastern Box turtles can vary from individual to individual but it can usually be described as a lot of spots or blobs, that are colored yellow, red or orange. Data deficient (DD) – Not enough data to make an assessment of its risk of extinction. The incubation period is longer than that of most turtles, lasting around 100 to 110 days. Alligator snappers, which most people will never see, are listed as endangered, and they inhabit only larger rivers and streams in the southern part of the state, the Mississippi, Ohio and Wabash Rivers, and tributaries directly connected to them. How long it can live: Between 30 and 50 years. They feed primarily on aquatic vegetation and invertebrates, but will also eat invertebrates. Reproduction: The nesting period takes place between May and July. Additionally, the Prairie Research Institute’s Illinois Natural History Survey has an Identification Key to help people figure out what species turtle they have found. TurtleOwner.com is owned and operated by The Turtle Owner Team. Adult green turtles are the only herbivorous sea turtles. For example the plastic in the water is greatly impacting sea turtles in a negative way. Not evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria. Here is a list that explains what every status means: The turtle species that I listed above are known as native species, but there can be other turtle species that live in that area that are not native, those species are called alien species. There are aquatic species that spend almost all of their lives in the water, There are 17 species of turtles in Illinois, 14 in Southern Illinois. 6 Missouri’s Turtles Illinois mud turtle. Female aquatic turtles and box turtles may nest in mulch and flowerbeds. link to How Much Do Turtles Cost? How big it can get: They usually reach sizes between 5 and 7 inches. TurtleOwner.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Description: The Midland Painted Turtle have a dark colored skin and shell, ranging in color from dark brown to black. But if you still want to, at least try not to put your hands near your face after you touched the turtle. The lower part of the shell is usually a yellow. Description: The Eastern Mud turtle has a very plain look, the upper part of the shell usually lacks any pattern and the color can range from a dark yellow to black. Loggerhead Sea Turtles. Take special care when moving snapping turtles. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category. Description: The Mississippi Map Turtle is usually colored, olive, brown or black. Where it lives: As the name implies Mud turtles prefer to stay in water bodies that have a soft bottom, composed of either sand or mud. If during a cold season you find a turtle that is hibernating, usually the best thing that you can do is to leave it to hibernate peacefully. They usually have very long legs, necks and tails. Description: The color of the Western Painted Turtles usually ranges from dark olive to black. Or if you are a turtle owner and you want to know more about how to properly take care of a turtle or a tortoise you can always check the Care Guides Section, or the Recommended Products Section. You are most likely to see turtles out and about between May and October. Where it lives: A habitat generalist, the common snapping turtle can be found in almost any body of fresh water with a muddy bottom. How big it can get: Red Eared Sliders usually reach sizes between 7 and 12 inches, in most cases the females are slightly bigger than the males. Though he is one of the more abundant of the sea turtles, he still faces many risks and dangers. There are many types of turtles and some species may suit your lifestyle better than others. The upper side of the skin is usually black and covered with spots just like the upper part of the shell, while the lower part of the skin is colored just like the underside of the shell, yellow, orange or red. The colors usually range from olive-gray to yellow-brown. These beautiful types of turtles were once regarded as a delicacy of the sea. Small species, such as the spotted turtle, may lay only three to five eggs in a nest, while the larger snapping turtle lays 20 to 40 eggs. The upper part of the shell is usually colored dark brown or black. It is illegal to take turtles from the La Rue-Pine Hills/Otter Pond Research Area in Union County. The whole process takes one-two months. The United States is home to more turtle species than any other country in the world, almost 100 species and subspecies. The incubation period for the eggs is between 70 and 80 days. If those turtles manage to reproduce, they can easily start a new alien species in a new area. The skin is usually covered with long and thin stripes that are also light colored. With the exception of Common Snapping Turtles, other turtles … If you would rather not come into contact with the turtle, gently slide a broad, flat shovel under the turtle and place it into a container. How big it can get: Common Musk turtles are very small, they usually reach sizes between 3 and 4.5 inches. The skin is also covered with very spike-like structures. Most Illinois turtles lay oval eggs, but softshells and snapping turtles lay spherical eggs. Diet: In general they prefer fruits, vegetables and other forms of vegetation over meat, but they can be occasionally seen eating insects and snails. Turtles are reptiles of the order Chelonia / k ɪ ˈ l oʊ n i ə / or Testudines / t ɛ ˈ s tj uː d ɪ n iː z /.They are characterized by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield. Diet: Map turtles are omnivorous, so they will eat meat, insects, fruit, vegetables, aquatic vegetation, and everything else that they can find. On the upper part of the shell they have a map-like pattern that is lightly colored, and a row of saw-toothed knobs running down the center of the shell. The entirety of the upper part of the shell is covered with pronounced, but not sharp, spikes. Turtles may be mauled by domestic pets or mishandled by curious children and adults. Chelydra serpentina: Snapping Turtle: Macrochelys temminckii: Alligator Snapping Turtle: Chrysemys picta: Painted Turtle: Clemmys guttata: Spotted Turtle From a layman’s point of view, terms like order, sub-order, genus, binomial name, etc., are bound to cause confusion. The bottom part of the shell is usually light colored. Quick Note: Most turtle subspecies are very similar, so besides some few differences in color it’s possible that everything else about them to be the same. Status: Endangered. Since a lot of those laws are about the native species I strongly suggest you to visit this interactive map that will point you to an article on this site that explains as simply as possible the state laws in Illinois regarding turtles, tortoises and terrapins. When choosing a turtle make sure you know how big they will grow. Where it lives: They are often found in slow-moving streams, creeks, lakes, ponds and marshes with a fresh and warm water supply. Diet: Painted turtles are omnivorous, this means that they will eat fruits, vegetables as well as meat. Diet: Painted turtles are omnivorous, this means that they will eat fruits, vegetables as well as meat and insects. But in general they prefer waters that have a soft bottoms, like mud or sand. How big it can get: Most Box turtles reach sizes between 5 and 7 inches. Small species, such as the spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata), may lay only three to five eggs in a nest, while the larger snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) lays 20 to 40 eggs. A lot of people believe that turtles smell bad, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. This is because they are really easy to care for, and they are very cost-effective. If a female expels water, it is best to return her to the closest area near standing water. The shell usually has markings on the side that can vary in color from red to yellow. In the case of younger individuals well defined round spots can be observed on the shell, in the case of adults those spots are not very visible. Every year TurlteOwner.com makes the world a better place for thousands of pet turtles, but right now we are having trouble keeping the site online. The skin of the Mississippi Map Turtle is usually covered with thin yellow lines. With so many options, choosing a pet turtle can be overwhelming. The conservation status of a species shows how close a species is to extinction. Where it lives: They prefer to live in large streams and rivers, but they can also be found in large reservoirs. Illinois hosts some breeding species in the summer. The incubation usually lasts between 70 and 100 days. 1816 South Oak Street, MC 652 Champaign, IL 61820 217-333-6880 cms@inhs.illinois.edu Illinois State Laws Regarding Turtles. Scutes may contain a beautiful pigmentation that looks like a sun's rays. If you have questions about reptiles or amphibians in Illinois, you can contact Scott Ballard, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Southern Region Endangered and Threatened Recovery Species Specialist/Herpetologist, at Scott.Ballard@Illinois.gov or 618-694-3398. Hello, I am Victor, and I have a turtle pond that is the home of 6 turtles and 2 tortoises. (With 20 Examples and Pictures), link to Do Turtles Smell? Albino slider turtles … Place the turtle in a container or box. The reason why most turtles end up smelling is because... We are a passionate group of writers and researchers who write about pet turtles and tortoises. So a certain state might be home to 10 turtle species, but only 5 of them can be native. The photo gallery below provides information about several of the turtles that are found in Illinois. I've been a turtle and tortoise owner for 10 years, during which I gained a lot of experience and information, and now I want to share them with everybody that is curious or it's looking for help. They can be usually be found across throughout open woodlands as well as grasslands and meadows. You can check out the laws of Illinois on this page: Turtle State Laws. Where it lives: They can be found in most water bodies, but they show a preference towards areas with a sandy or muddy substrate. Most of those rules are generally designed to protect turtles, so even if they seem a little restrictive, they are there for a good reason. Where it lives: The alligator snapping turtle can usually be found  at the bottom of rivers, lakes, sloughs, swamps and bayous. Be careful not to be scratched by the nails on the turtle’s hind feet. Personal possession limits also exist for any native species of amphibian or reptile. Their carapace can include shades of black, gray, green, brown, or yellow. We are a passionate group of writers and researchers who write about pet turtles and turtles in general. Diet: Common Musk turtles are omnivorous and feed on small aquatic and semi-aquatic animals, aquatic plants, and carrion, and any other kind of fruit or vegetable that they can find. East Texas, western Illinois, Southern Indiana, Western Kentucky are home to these species. The skin of the False Map Turtle is usually covered with thin yellow-white stripes. The skin is usually covered with yellow stripes. Description: Like most box turtles, the Ornate Box Turtle has a very dome like shaped shell, that can range in color from brown to black, and it’s usually covered with a multitude of lines and spots that can range in color from yellow to orange. The lower part of the shell  is usually colored yellow. Diet: They are omnivorous, this means that they eat both meat and plants. The skin is usually dark brown or black with yellow, orange or red lines. Every state in the US has different laws regarding native turtles and turtles in general. A turtle can cost anywhere between $10 and $100... Do Turtles Smell? If you want to take turtles from the wild you will need a fishing license from the state. What to Expect and How to Prevent, Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macroclemys temminckii), Common Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica), Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus), Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum), Eastern Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera), False Map Turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica), Hieroglyphic River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna hieroglyphica), Yellow Mud Turtle (Kinosternon flavescens), Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata), Midland Smooth Softshell (Apalone mutica mutica), Mississippi Map Turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii), Mississippi Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis), Ouachita Map Turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis), Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), Southern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta dorsalis), Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii), What to Do If You Find a Wild Native Turtle, You Can Help Us Keep TurtleOwner.com Alive, What Do Turtles Eat ? 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