Freshwater turtle species names

Perhaps it is the freshwater turtle, although it is semi-aquatic, better known because many years ago it was the most popular pet among reptiles. However, the red-eared or Florida turtle is an invasive species in many places, such as in Spain. They were introduced as companion animals and then when they grew up they were abandoned, causing them to spread over much of the territory, harming the native fauna by leaving them without food and space, as they compete to survive and Florida tortoises are very resistant. For this reason, in Spain its sale was prohibited for several years. You can consult more details in this other AgroCorrn article about Florida turtles prohibited in Spain .

Its scientific name is Trachemys scripta elegans, it lives in Mexico and the United States. They measure up to 30 cm in length, are green with slight yellow markings and the most distinctive part that gives them their name are two red markings on the sides of the head , as if they were their ears. The females are larger than the males, as in most species of turtles.

Another of the best known tortoises that have been kept at home for decades are the yellow-eared tortoises or Trachemys scripta scripta , which are very close relatives of the previous ones. They also come from the US and Mexico. For the same reasons, if they are left in the wild in countries other than those of their origin, they become an invasive species, although they are somewhat less invasive than red-eared ones.

They have yellow stripes on the neck, head and lower part of the shell, the belly area. They are also about 12 inches tall but are a shade more brown than Florida ones.

This also is called turtle papuana loggerhead , turtle pig nose or by its scientific name: pig-nosed turtle . Its origin is in Australia and New Guinea.

It is one of the best-known soft-shell turtles that live in fresh water, since they only come ashore to lay eggs, they do not even do so to feed. In addition, the shape of his neck and head is striking. It has a very long neck, which it hides at ease like most of these animals, and its head is triangular with more frontal eyes than usual in an animal of this type and a nose with round and large nostrils, hence its common name of “pig-nosed turtle”. It is a large species, as it can reach 60 cm in length and weigh up to 25 kg.

Called Trachemys scripta troosti , this is a species that comes from the United States. It has a carapace with a very marked green tone and darker, almost black, and yellow lines. It is smaller in size than the previous ones, as it can measure at most a little more than 20 cm long.

It is omnivorous, like the previous ones, so it eats algae, fish, crabs, mollusks, insects and tadpoles. It is semi-aquatic, as it sometimes comes out to sunbathe and feed, although the latter does more in fresh water.

As its common name indicates, the Clemmys guttata , is a freshwater species that has yellow specks or small spots on its shell and skin , which contrast greatly with its dark green or even bluish background tone.

They are semi-aquatic and can measure up to 12 cm in length, with the females being larger than the males. They are also omnivorous tortoises that come from the US, but they also live naturally in Canada. Sadly, this species is threatened , since in recent years it has lost a lot of habitat and has been taken from the wild to be sold as a pet.

Learn more about endangered turtles in this other AgroCorrn article.

Also called musk turtle keel, bulbous turtle or with its scientific name Sternotherus carinatus , it is also native to the US They are one of the smallest freshwater turtles, measuring up to 15 cm long. They are more aquatic than other of the previous views, since they only go ashore to lay their eggs.

They are light brown in color with dark brown markings and their shell gives them the name of a bulb since it is more domed than that of most of these animals. The other curious common name that is given, “stinky”, is because when they feel threatened they expel a discharge with an intense and fetid odor .

Although any of the above turtles can bite us, either for defense if they are scared or to feed if they are hungry because there are carnivores and omnivores, the following are the most dangerous species of freshwater turtles :

Tortuga matamata

It is called Chelus fimbriata and it lives in the Amazon, so it lives with piranhas, on which it sometimes feeds. It has a curious aspect as well as something terrifying, as it is full of spikes on both the shell and the neck and has a curious long and thin nose, with which it manages to breathe the air better without leaving its hiding place under water. This is a perfect technique for hunting land animals that come to the river to drink. It is one of the turtles with the most powerful bite .

Alligator or alligator turtle

It is considered the turtle with the most powerful bite, in fact its name can give us an idea, and it has a hard beak and very strong jaw muscles. In addition to taking into account its terrifying appearance for looking like an alligator with a shell and skin full of tips, although they do not prick, it is one of the largest turtles , as it can weigh about 100 kg and reach more than half a meter . It can live for more than 1 century and although they do not feed on people, if we disturb them they can easily tear off our fingers or even hands and feet, depending on the size of the animal.

Loggerhead turtle

Also known as the macrocephalic tortoise ( Platysternon megacephalum ), it is one of the most dangerous because they have a very strong jaw and a larger head than usual for their body size. They also have a curious and long tail, like the previous ones. They do not attack people to feed themselves, but if they have to defend themselves they can injure us very seriously and even break bones. Sometimes they use their jaws to better climb branches and trunks on the banks and with them they catch any prey, and even hunt birds that come to drink the river.

American snapping turtle

Finally, the name of this species gives a clear idea of ​​the power of its jaws, but it also receives more common names such as satan tortoise, bull tortoise, talaman, lizard tortoise, bache, sambunango and its scientific name is Chelydra serpentina . It is smaller than the first two on this dangerous species list, but has strong jaws, legs, and a tail.

As we have seen, all these dangerous turtles have a behavior similar to that of coveting them or alligators. In the image below we can see in the first part of the top an alligator or alligator turtle, in the upper right a matamata turtle, in the lower left a loggerhead turtle and in the lower right a snapping or bull turtle.

If you want to read more articles similar to Names of species of freshwater turtles , we recommend that you enter our category of Wild animals .