Painted turtle

The most widespread native turtle in North America (family Emydidae), found from southern Canada to the US Gulf states. Adults measure 10–25 cm carapace length and weigh 300–600 g. They have a smooth, flattened, dark (olive to black) carapace, often with red or yellow borders on marginal scutes. The plastron is yellow, sometimes with a dark central blotch. Skin is dark with distinctive red, orange, and yellow stripes on the head, neck, and limbs. Four subspecies are recognized: eastern, midland, southern, and western. They are freshwater turtles inhabiting ponds, lakes, marshes, and slow rivers with muddy bottoms and abundant vegetation. Omnivorous: aquatic plants, algae, insects, crayfish, snails, and small fish. They are prolific baskers, often seen stacked on logs. Females lay 4–15 eggs in terrestrial nests; incubation: 72–80 days. They exhibit temperature-dependent sex determination. They can survive frozen in ice during winter (freeze tolerance). The genome is sequenced. Lifespan: 20–40+ years. They are the state reptile of multiple US states. IUCN: Least Concern.