Characteristics:
     This is a medium sized turtle with a carapace length of around 7in. Adults have a smooth olive brown shell with orange or yellow marks that fade with age. Edges of the carapace are bright red-orange. Head is marked with yellow stripes.

*Note: 3 subspeces exist in this area. The western painted turtle (C. p. bellii), midland painted turtle (C. p. marginata), and (C. p. dorsalis) which is considered to be an intergade of midland and southern painted turtle species. They are distinguished by the presence and intensity of a stripe down the carapace.


Habitat:
   Nearly any aquatic habitat. Commonly seen sunning on logs or rock in and around lakes and rivers.


Behavior:
   This turtle spends most of its time basking on logs and rocks. They can been seen in semi-large numbers all piled on top of one another. They share territory with several other aquatic turtles and can be seen basking with them. Nesting season is in early summer. They eat a large variety of plants and invertebrates, as well as fish.

Personal Remarks:
    A very common turtle in IL and MO. We see these guys pretty much anytime we are near a lake or river. They are all over the place. The juveniles can have some really brilliant colors on them and make for some great pictures.