Midland Painted Turtle

Description:

The midland painted turtle is 10–25 cm (4–10 in) long. The centrally located midland is the hardest to distinguish from the other three subspecies. Its bottom shell has a characteristic symmetrical dark shadow in the center which varies in size and prominence.

Habitat:

slow moving freshwater

Notes:

I spotted this turtle walking on very hot black rocks roasting the sun beside a train track. I was very surprised to see it there. I saw it in the same area as a small snapping turtle. Unfortunately this one was really timid and would not come out of its shell for me.