Eastern Painted Turtle

Chrysemys picta picta — Emydidae

4.5–6 inches

IUCN

Least Concern

Federal (US)

None

Virginia

None

VWAP Tier

Not Listed

Habitat

aquaticsemi-aquatic

Found in Virginia

Statewide

How to identify

Smooth, flat, olive to black carapace
Bright red or orange on inner margins of carapace
Ornate red and yellow pattern on plastron
Yellow stripes on head and neck
No ridge or keel on shell

About this species

The eastern painted turtle is one of Virginia's most commonly seen freshwater turtles, frequently spotted basking in rows on logs and rocks along ponds and slow rivers. They are medium-sized, flat-shelled, and vividly marked with red on the edges of the carapace and an ornate red and yellow plastron.

Often confused with

Red-eared Slider

Red-eared sliders have a red patch behind the eye and lack the red carapace margins of painted turtles

Northern Red-bellied Cooter

Red-bellied cooters are larger with a reddish plastron and an arrow-shaped head marking

Did you know

"Painted turtle hatchlings can survive being frozen solid during winter — their bodies produce a kind of natural antifreeze that protects their cells."

Sightings & citizen science

Help document Virginia wildlife by logging your sightings on iNaturalist. Every observation builds the conservation data that researchers and rehabbers depend on.

View Eastern Painted Turtle observations on iNaturalist ↗

Found one injured?

If you've found an injured or displaced Eastern Painted Turtle in Virginia, our triage guide walks you through what to do.

Triage guide →