Spotted, snapping and Blanding's turtles lay eggs once per year. Snapping turtles can be dangerous for an inexperienced person to handle. 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. Mating of this species takes place yearly. On average the incubation period for the eggs lasts between 80 and 90 days. ( Including Food Lists ), Extinct (EX) – No known living individuals, Extinct in the wild (EW) – Known only to survive in captivity, or as a naturalized population outside its historic range, Critically endangered (CR) – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, Endangered (EN) – High risk of extinction in the wild, Vulnerable (VU) – High risk of endangerment in the wild, Near threatened (NT) – Likely to become endangered in the near future. And always wash your hands with hot water and soap afterward. REMAINING (number with state) Bridge inframarginal scute number 4 (2) 3 (1) Bridge inguinal scutes developed Absent (1) Poorly (1) Well (1) Bridge width 1/2 or more of abdominal shield (1) Another distinguishable feature of the Common Musk turtle can be found on its head in the form of two light colored stripes. The amount of time it takes the eggs to hatch is around 80 days. Where it lives: Map turtles can be found in waters that are stagnant or slow moving, and that have a lot of vegetation. In this article I am going to take a closer look at each species and cover a few basic things about them, things like the appearance, lifespan, how big it can get, diet, where it lives, conservation status and reproduction. Description: The most distinct feature of the Red Eared Slider are the red lines that can be easily seen behind the eyes, those lines can vary in color from red to orange and rarely yellow, but in most cases they are red. Data deficient (DD) – Not enough data to make an assessment of its risk of extinction. KY state is located in the southern United States and is bordered by Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois to the north, Tennessee to the south, Virginia and West Virginia to the east, and Missouri to the west. As the map turtles get older the pattern and the knobs start to slowly disappear, up to a point where they are beary visible. And they have a pronounced beak-like mouth. Scientific Name: Chelonia mydas. So if you touch a turtle make sure that you have some wet wipes near you, if you don’t you should probably avoid touching it. Where it lives: They can be found in most water bodies, but they show a preference towards areas with a sandy or muddy substrate. Reproduction: Nesting season starts in May and ends July. If you want to touch the turtle you can usually do that, but you have to take a few cautionary measures. How big it can get: Common Musk turtles are very small, they usually reach sizes between 3 and 4.5 inches. In Illinois, the rabbits live in open and wooded areas in rural and urban settings. How big it can get: Between 12 and 15 inches, in rare cases some of them can reach even 19 inches. Usually turtles know how to choose a good spot to hibernate, so they are probably just fine. What you can do if you find a native wild turtle really depends on your intentions. The skin is usually covered with yellow stripes. On the other hand, that diversity is a bit misleading because Illinois also lists populations of eleven species as either threatened or endangered. Adding a turtle to your home can be a great way to gain a new pet that will be with you for years.There are hundreds of turtle types, though, ranging from sea turtles to snapping turtles and much, much more. The lower part of the shell  is usually colored yellow. A lot of people believe that turtles smell bad, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Generally turtles are peaceful creatures, but if they think that they are in danger and they have no way of escaping, then they will definitely try to bite you. They were commonly used for making turtle soup in Singapore and the U.S, and were nearly hunted down to extinction in many regions of the world. This water is important for moistening the soil of the nest site. Various Types of Turtles. When choosing a turtle make sure you know how big they will grow. They can be usually be found across throughout open woodlands as well as grasslands and meadows. Repair Damage: What to Know Before Making Repairs, Contact an IDNR District Wildlife Biologist. The upper shell has a pattern that is similar to a map, hence the name Mississippi Map Turtle. Reproduction: Nesting season is May to July. Reproduction: Nesting occurs from late May until the middle of July, and the incubation period lasts between 70 and 90 days. The skin is usually dark brown or black with yellow, orange or red lines. Diet: Eastern Spiny softshells are carnivorous. Description: The Common Map Turtle Usually ranges in color from dark brown to black. How big it can get: Most Box turtles reach sizes between 5 and 7 inches. These beautiful types of turtles were once regarded as a delicacy of the sea. 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. Female aquatic turtles and box turtles may nest in mulch and flowerbeds. Diet: Smooth softshell turtles are omnivores, but they definitely prefer meat over plants, so in general they will consume meat, insects, snails, and fish, and occasionally they will eat some fruits, vegetables and other kinds of vegetation. A light stripe bordered by black is usually present behind each eye. Quick list of the native turtles of Illinois: Now let’s take a closer look at the native turtles of Illinois. Reproduction: Map turtles usually nest multiple times a year from the start of the spring up until the end of the summer. Illinois state law prohibits the commercial sale of any wild-caught snake or any of their parts, eggs, or offspring. You have to remember that most wild animals can carry bacteria, and since turtles spend a lot of time in water those bacteria can be a little more dangerous. How long it can live: Between 40 and 60 years. How big it can get: Most of them reach sizes between 8 and 12 inches, but it’s not uncommon to find females that reach sizes bigger than that, sometimes even 15 inches. The photo gallery below provides information about several of the turtles that are found in Illinois. Males usually reach sizes between 5 and 9 inches, while females reach sizes between 12 and 20 inches. Description: The Midland Smooth Softshell Turtle is a rather plain looking softshell turtle. Take special care when moving snapping turtles. Diet: They are omnivorous, this means that they eat both meat and plants. Turtles are incredibly unique vertebrates, comprised of between 300 and 400 different species (the exact number is contested), and these belong to three groups that are often mistakenly spoken about interchangeably: true turtles, tortoises, and terrapins. On the one hand, the thirty eight species recorded in the state puts it at the above average range for snake diversity. These females may expel a large amount of water from their vent/cloaca when lifted up by a well- meaning rescuer. The average time an egg needs to incubate is 75 days. Turtles can do a lot of good things to an area, they can keep certain insect populations under control, they can eat the overwhelming vegetation, of a lake, that got out of control, and there are a lot of other beneficial things that they can do. 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. Their diet consists of mussels, plants and insects. The upper part of the shell is usually colored dark brown or black. turtles have a depressed, smooth shell with brightly colored patterns on the lower shell. The average incubation period of the eggs is 75 days. Be careful not to be scratched by the nails on the turtle’s hind feet. There are approximately 330 species of turtle in the world, 17 of which are found in Illinois: Emydidae - Pond and Box Turtles twelve marginal scutes on each side The skin is also covered with very spike-like structures. Unless a turtle is in immediate danger, leave it where you found it. The color of the skin is usually the same color as the upper part of the shell. 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 ? How big it can get: In general Smooth Softshell turtles reach sizes between 6 and 13 inches. When turtles hibernate, they enter a very profound sleep which allows them to conserve energy. The skin of the Mississippi Map Turtle is usually covered with thin yellow lines. There are a lot of systems that track the conservation status of a species, but the most well known and used is the one I used in this article, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The upper shell has a pattern that is similar to a map, hence the name Ouachita Map Turtle. Description: The Eastern Spiny Softshell has a leather like shell that is very round and flattened, when comparing it to other turtles. Reproduction: The nesting season usually starts in March and ends in June. This is because they are really easy to care for, and they are very cost-effective. Green turtles weigh up to 350 pounds. Males have a red crown and throat. Where it lives: All Painted turtles subspecies prefer to live in freshwater, and they can be usually found in slow moving rivers, ponds, and lakes. 1816 South Oak Street, MC 652 Champaign, IL 61820 217-333-6880 cms@inhs.illinois.edu Their preferred prey includes fish, crayfish, and other aquatic invertebrates. Diet: Omnivorous. How long it can live: Between 30 and 70 years. The most important thing that you have to watch out for when interacting with a wild turtle is the turtle trying to bite you. But those turtle species are not distributed evenly, so most states won’t always be home to the same turtle species, even if they are very close. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category. East Texas, western Illinois, Southern Indiana, Western Kentucky are home to these species. The skin of the Ouachita Map Turtle is usually covered with thin yellow-white lines. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. How big it can get:  Between 15 and 26 inches. How long it can live: Between 50 and 100 years. Not evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria. Mud turtles generally live for about 30 years but can live to be 50 with the right care. All State Reptiles An election for favorite state reptile was conducted on the Internet in 2004 (other candidates considered were the eastern box turtle and the common garter snake ). 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. 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. Their carapace can include shades of black, gray, green, brown, or yellow. Personal possession limits also exist for any native species of amphibian or reptile. 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. As the Ouachita Map Turtles age the map pattern, as well as the keel become less pronounced. 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. If a female expels water, it is best to return her to the closest area near standing water. Description: The Common Musk Turtle has a very plain appearance with very consistent colors. With so many options, choosing a pet turtle can be overwhelming. Additionally, curbs along roads and parking lots and railroad tracks can trap turtles. If it’s winter or close to winter there is a chance that you can find a hibernating turtle. Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. In the Wild The long tail of a snapping turtle should not be used to lift the turtle, since the weight of the body can sever the turtle’s spine. Slider turtles are probably the most popular species of water turtles kept in the world. With the exception of Common Snapping Turtles, other turtles … The lower part of the shell is usually a yellow. Placing a wire basket (with a top) over the nest site can protect the nest from predators such as raccoons and opossums. Reproduction: Nesting period starts in May, and ends around the end of July. 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. If you want to take turtles from the wild you will need a fishing license from the state. Most Illinois turtles lay oval eggs, but softshells and snapping turtles lay spherical eggs. Description: The Spotted Turtle has a black upper part of the shell that is covered with yellow, orange or red spots. The Illinois Herp Code regulates the keeping of venomous snakes or boas and pythons in captivity. The lower side of the shell is usually plain yellow, but in some cases there can be small colored spots. One of the few distinct features of the Eastern Mud Turtle are the stripes on the head that can range in color from white to yellow. On this site you will find articles that cover every basic thing that a turtle owner needs to know, as well as all the advanced stuff. How big it can get: Most Painted turtles reach sizes between 5 and 7 inches. Pet turtles require lots of time, care and attention! Alien species are species that are not native to an area, but they still live there. Illinois is home to 21 turtle species. They usually hunt their prey, but not actively, they do this by sitting at the bottom of the lake with their mouth open, while waiting for their prey. The skin is usually covered in multiple yellow spots. Illinois Natural History Survey. (With 20 Examples and Pictures), link to Do Turtles Smell? Diet: Map turtles are omnivorous, so they will eat meat, insects, fruit, vegetables, aquatic vegetation, and everything else that they can find. How long it can live: Between  30 and 50 years. Illinois designated the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) as the official state reptile in 2005 (also the reptile symbol of Michigan). Where it lives: Unlike most turtles, Box turtles live on land instead of water. Another of the different types of turtles that are threatened is the loggerhead sea turtle. It is not necessary to provide water as long as the turtle will be held only a short time. TurtleOwner.com is owned and operated by The Turtle Owner Team. Water is greatly impacting sea turtles out the category: turtle state laws official state reptile in (. Spotted, snapping and Blanding 's turtles lay eggs once per year our! 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