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Clemmys guttata
Captured in a vernal pool with a dip net. The spotted turtle is a small species that rarely exceeds five inches in length. Its smooth carapace (shell) is slate gray or black with a variable number of bright yellow spots. Hatchling turtles usually have one spot on each plate, while older individuals are well sprinkled with 100 or more.
Inhabits a variety of wetland types, including vernal pools, swamps, bogs and marshes, small streams, wet meadows, and early and mature wet forests.
The species is listed as threatened in several states and endangered on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Red List of Threatened Species.
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