Painted Turtle {Chrysemys picta) 



Description: Adult Painted Turtles have a relatively flat dorsal shell, or carapace, the length of 

 which may reach 9" in females and 7" in males. The background color of the shell mav be dark 

 brown, olive, or black. A series of short, irregular yellow lines are often scattered across the 

 shell, and a red and black border forms the outer edge. The ventral shell, or plastron, is red 

 with a centrally-located yellow and black blotch with edges flaring out along the border of the 

 scutes. The edge of the plastron also has a series of black and yellow blotches The head, 

 neck, and legs are marked with yellow lines, and a red spot appears behind the e\e \'er\' 

 dark-colored individuals are occasionally found. Males are distinguished by longer front claws 

 and longer tails, with the anus posterior to the margin of the carapace (Ernst et al. 1994). 

 Eggs and Young. The elliptical, white, soft-shelled eggs are about 28-35 mm in length and 16- 

 23 mm in width (Ernst et al. 1994) They typically number 6-23 per clutch Coloration of 

 young Painted Tunles is more vibrant and the shell is not quite as flattened as in adults. 



Similar Species: None. 



Habitat and Habits: Painted Turtles are active during the day and are rarely seen far from ponds, 

 lakes, or the slow-moving water of streams. Painted Turtles obser\-ed during this survey were 

 usually in ponds or reservoirs. Aduhs are primarily herbivorous, feeding on a \-ariety of 

 aquatic plants, but will also sca\enge on animal remains. Eggs are usually laid within 10-20 

 feet of the water's edge, although some individuals will travel up to 600 m in search of a 

 suitable site. During egg-laying, the female excavates a hole with her hind feet and deposits 

 the eggs, which are then covered by several inches of dirt. Predation on turtle eggs bv 

 raccoons, skunks, etc. is common, and shell fragments are evidence of such activity. Female 

 Painted Turtles may lay more than one clutch of eggs each summer. Young bom of late 

 clutches overwinter in the nest and do not emerge until the following spring (Ernst et al. 

 1994). Once females lay their eggs, they return to the pond, where they can often be seen 

 basking on logs or rocks along with juveniles and males. During the 1998 survevs, adults 

 were seen between 4 April and 24 July (Appendix 2). Painted Turtles are sexuallv mature at 

 3-5 years of age and may live to be 30 years or older (Ernst et al. 1994). 



Surveying: Various turtle traps can be used for surveys, although visual identification is suitable 

 for presence/absence studies, since the three turtle species in Montana are easily distinguished. 

 Basking peaks at different times during the day. depending on season and location; in the 

 northern states and Canada it generally peaks in the morning. Surveys should be done on 

 sunny days with a pair of binoculars During cold or cloudy weather, turtles tend to remain 

 underv\ater for long periods and can be missed on a walk-through survey. 



Status: Painted Turtles are locally quite common across eastern Montana at lower elevations. In 

 1998. this species was documented on 13 surveys in 4 counties (.Appendix 2), and seen in 2 

 additional counties (Appendix 4). There has been heightened interest regarding recruitment in 

 Painted Turtle populations nationally. Declines are not known to have occurred in Montana, 

 but concern has been expressed regarding nest predation in some local populations (Com and 

 Hendncks 1998) It should be watched for on BLM lands, and any animals located should be 

 documented 



Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G5 S5. 



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