# Painted Turtle (*Chrysemys picta*) The Painted Turtle is a colorful turtle with beautiful markings on its shell. It loves to swim and bask in the sun. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 361 - **Habitat:** Ponds, lakes, and rivers. - **Also known as:** Common Painted Turtle, Eastern Painted Turtle, Western Painted Turtle ![Painted Turtle](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771438755/objects/5622.jpg) ## Appearance The Painted Turtle has a smooth, dark olive to black shell with bright red or orange markings along the edges. Its skin is dark with distinctive yellow and red stripes on its head, neck, legs, and tail, making it one of the most colorful North American turtles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Testudines - **Order:** Testudines - **Family:** Emydidae - **Genus:** Chrysemys ## Interesting facts - A painted turtle can live longer than most household pets, up to 30 years! - Baby painted turtles decide if they'll be male or female based on nest temperature! - Their unique shell patterns are like human fingerprints – no two are exactly alike! - They can spend entire winters buried in mud at the bottom of a pond. ## Special abilities - **Deep Freeze Survivor:** Painted Turtles can survive being frozen solid for weeks because their body produces a special anti-freeze that protects cells. - **Sun Soak Master:** Painted Turtles have a strong instinct to bask in the sun, which helps them warm up and fight off parasites. - **Underwater Breather:** Painted Turtles can absorb oxygen through their skin and throat lining underwater, helping them stay submerged longer. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-25 cm - **Weight:** 0.3-1 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 0.5 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 3 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-20 - **Incubation:** 70-100 days - **Maximum Depth:** 3 m ## Diet & Feeding Painted Turtles are omnivores, munching on both plants and small creatures in their watery homes. - **Age differences:** Younger turtles eat more animal matter, while adults eat mostly plants. - **Primary Foods:** Aquatic plants, Algae, Aquatic insects, Worms, Small fish, Tadpoles - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Opportunistically preys on eggs and hatchlings. - **Eaten by:** [Great Blue Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-blue-heron) (*Ardea herodias*) — Preys on small, young turtles. - **Eats:** Threespine Stickleback (*Gasterosteus aculeatus*) — Adult turtles may prey on small fish. - **Eats:** Fragrant Water Lily (*Nymphaea odorata*) — Turtles feed on leaves and stems. - **Eats:** [Common Spreadwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-spreadwing) (*Lestes congener*) — Turtles consume aquatic insect larvae. ## Traits - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Armored](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/armored): Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) - [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Painted Turtle? Compare shell shape, shell markings, head stripes and the shape of the feet. Wear, age and algae can hide shell patterns. Turtle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Painted Turtle? 10-25 cm ### How much does Painted Turtle weigh? 0.3-1 kg ### How long does Painted Turtle live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Painted Turtle move? 0.5 km/h ### What does Painted Turtle eat? Painted Turtles are omnivores, munching on both plants and small creatures in their watery homes. ### How fast can Painted Turtle swim? 3 km/h ### Where is Painted Turtle usually found? Ponds, lakes, and rivers. ## Where to spot - [Albany Pine Bush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albany-pine-bush) — New York, US · Nature Reserve - [Ames Nowell State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ames-nowell-state-park) — Massachusetts, US · State Park - [Ashton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashton-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Barrington Civic Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrington-civic-center-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Bear Meadows Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-meadows-natural-area) — Pennsylvania, US · Nature Reserve - [Bear Swamp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-swamp) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Painted Turtle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/painted-turtle) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Painted Turtle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/painted-turtle)