# Wood Turtle (*Glyptemys insculpta*) The Wood Turtle is a special turtle with a bumpy shell. They love to wander through the woods and enjoy sunny spots. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 14 - **Habitat:** Forests near rivers - **Also known as:** Eastern Wood Turtle, Northern Wood Turtle ![Wood Turtle](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424374/objects/5718.jpg) ## Appearance The Wood Turtle has a distinct, sculpted dark brown or grey shell with ridged, pyramid-shaped scutes, giving it a rough appearance. Its head, neck, and legs display vibrant orange-yellow markings against a dark background, making it visually unique. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Testudines - **Order:** Testudines - **Family:** Emydidae - **Genus:** Glyptemys ## Interesting facts - Each Wood Turtle's shell has unique patterns, like a fingerprint, to tell them apart! - They use strong claws to climb over logs and dig nests for their eggs. - Wood Turtles are famous for stomping their feet to make worms think it's raining! - Wood Turtles can remember specific locations within their large home territories. ## Special abilities - **Worm Whisperer:** Wood Turtles can stomp their feet on the ground, creating vibrations that trick hidden worms into surfacing. - **Sculpted Shell Camouflage:** The Wood Turtle has a rough, patterned shell that helps it blend perfectly with rocky stream beds and forest leaf litter. - **Amphibious Explorer:** Wood Turtles are equally adept at moving on land and swimming in water, allowing them to utilize diverse habitats. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 14-25 cm - **Weight:** 1-2.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 40-60 years - **Speed:** 1.5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-12 - **Incubation:** 45-80 days ## Diet & Feeding This omnivore enjoys a varied diet of plants and small animals found both on land and in water. - **Primary Foods:** Earthworms, Slugs, Insects, Berries, Mushrooms, Leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Raccoons often raid nests for turtle eggs. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Foxes prey on young hatchlings and eggs. - **Eats:** [Earthworm](https://www.snappit.app/explore/earthworm) (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — A primary food, often lured out by foot stomping. - **Eats:** [Red Raspberry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-raspberry) (*Rubus idaeus*) — Enjoys eating ripe berries during summer. ## Traits - [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. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [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. - [Regenerative](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/regenerative): Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs. ## 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 Wood 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 Wood Turtle? 14-25 cm ### How much does Wood Turtle weigh? 1-2.5 kg ### How long does Wood Turtle live? 40-60 years ### How fast can Wood Turtle move? 1.5 km/h ### What does Wood Turtle eat? This omnivore enjoys a varied diet of plants and small animals found both on land and in water. ### Where is Wood Turtle usually found? Forests near rivers ### How does Wood Turtle hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Enfield Shaker Museum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/enfield-shaker-museum) — New Hampshire, US · Museum - [McDade Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mcdade-park) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Russian Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/russian-village-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Skylands](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/skylands) — New Jersey, US · Botanical Garden - [South Britain Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-britain-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Virginville](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/virginville) — Pennsylvania, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see Wood Turtle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/wood-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: [Wood Turtle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wood-turtle)