Turtles
Blanding's Turtles
Emydoidea blandingii
Characteristics
Dark brown/black shell with yellow flecks on their carapace (top shell). Bright yellow chin and throat and grey/black limbs.
Status
Endangered (Nova Scotia)
Habitat
Can be found in eutrophic wetlands, swamps, marshes, ponds, and slow-flowing streams.
Range
Restricted to the southwestern center of Nova Scotia, and only found in isolated pockets.
Eastern Painted turtle
Chrysemys picta picta
Characteristics
Bright red and yellow stripping along the head, neck, and shoulders. Dark brown/black carapace often with slight red markings along the edges. Their plastron (belly) is typically yellow or orange.
Status
Special Concern (Nova Scotia)
Habitat
Can be found in most water bodies throughout mainland Nova Scotia.
Range
Found throughout mainland Nova Scotia.
Wood turtle
Glyptemys insculpta
Characteristics
Their carapace can vary in brown colors and often looks similar to tree rings giving it a woody look. The neck, legs, and tail are typically reddish/orange underneath and brown on top. The plastron is yellow with black splotches similar to Blanding's turtles.
Status
Threatened (Nova Scotia)
Habitat
Can be found in wetlands and slow-moving waterways. Wood turtles are the most terrestrial of Nova Scotia turtles and spend much of their summertime on land near their home waterway.
Range
Found most commonly in pockets in Northeastern Nova Scotia.
Common Snapping turtle
Chelydra serpentina
Characteristics
Dark brown/grey shell, jagged carapace, large head, and overall prehistoric look. Snapping turtle's larger head and small plastrons prevents them from being able to tuck their head into their shell. Since they lack this ability to hide from predators they rely on their aggressive look and snapping bite to deter predators from approaching.
Status
Special Concern (Nova Scotia)
Habitat
Can be found in most water bodies throughout Nova Scotia, prefer water bodies with soft bottoms and lots of aquatic vegetation.
Range
Can be found throughout Nova Scotia, becoming more common in the Southwestern region.
