Chrysemys picta marginata: Natural History

My roommate has this adorable little turtle, named Yurtle, who we finally identified as a young Midland Painted turtle, Chysemys picta marginata. Females are usually larger than their mates in this species, but since Yurtle is still young, we are not sure of her sex (though we just call her a female anyway). Midland painted turtles are not common to this area. My roommate found Yurtle in her home state of Illinois, which makes more sense than South Carolina because midland painted turtles are found from southeast Canada through the mid-western states, down to the very northwest tip of Georgia. 


Midland painted turtles grow to be about 4.5 to 5.5 inches. They have large, back alternating scutes instead of straight across their carapace. Their head and limbs are colored with patterns of red, yellow, and orange. What separates midland painted from the other painted subspecies is a distinct marking on the plastron. There is a large, dark blotch that varies in size and shape for each individual, but it usually touches all plastron scutes.


Chrysemys picta subspecies are primarily found in low waters of ponds, streams, and slow moving backwaters. They feed on aquatic vegetation, insects, small mollusks, and crayfish (though Yurtle is particularly fond of turtle pellets). Painted turtles also love to bask; Yurtle can often be seen with her head stretched forward, and her back limbs flattened out and facing the warm light.