Painted Turtles (Midland and Western)

 

There are two types of Painted turtles in Ontario; the Midland Painted turtle and the Western Painted Turtle.

Midland Painted turtles have red stripes on the neck, while Western Painted Turtles do not. The range of the Midland Painted turtles is also central to The Land Between bioregion and further south in Ontario, while the Western Painted turtles is found further north (often north and west of Lake Superior)

Midland Painted Turtle

I.D. Features:

• Smaller fast turtle
• Red colouring underneath carapace and on neck
• Yellow stripes at the head and red on its neck, but no red colour near the ears (red-eared sliders have red markings here)

  

• Smooth carapace
• Pale plastron

  

Habitat Features:

• Generalists- like most small wetlands pockets, ponds, rivers and streams

Range:

Painted turtles are one of the most prolific turtles in Ontario: they are found throughout central and southern Ontario