Spotted Turtle

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Turtle Species

Spotted Turtle

Clemmys guttata

  • Scientific nameClemmys guttata
  • Japanese nameキボシイシガメ
  • FamilyPond turtles (Emydidae)
  • Max carapace length12 cm
  • Longest recorded lifespan110 years
  • DietOmnivorous
  • LifestyleAquatic
  • Conservation status (IUCN)EN — Endangered
  • iNaturalist observations6,759

About this species

The spotted turtle, the only species of the genus Clemmys, is a small, semi-aquatic turtle. Their broad, smooth, low upper shell, or carapace, reaches 8–12 cm (3.1–4.7 in) upon adulthood, and ranges in its exact colour from black to a bluish black with a number of tiny yellow round spots. The spotting patterning extends from the head, to the neck and out onto the limbs. Sexually mature males have a concave plastron and a long, thick tail. By contrast, sexually mature females possess a flat plastron and have a tail that is noticeably shorter and thinner than that of mature males. Mature males also have a dark iris and face; females typically have a yellow or orange iris and a similarly coloured face that is distinctly lighter than the males'. Juveniles appear female-like in this regard, and at maturity males begin to develop darker features.

Source: Wikipedia「Spotted turtle」 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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