FWE 306 - Turtles and Lizards

Chelydra serpentina (Chelydridae) ((Testudines))

- LARGEST

- beak-like mouth

- reduced plastron

- serrated back edge of carapace

- saw-teeth on tail

Sternotherus odoratus (Kinosternidae) ((Testudines))

- SMALLEST

- high domed shell

- yellow lines on head + neck

- somewhat reduced plastron

Glyptemys insculpta (Emydidae) ((Testudines))

- growth rings on shell

- black + white on belly

Emydoidea blandingii (Emydidae) ((Testudines))

- bright yellow chin

- high domed shell, dark with yellow spots

- hinged plastron

Terrapene ornata (Emydidae) ((Testudines))

- high domed shell, decorative pattern

- hinged plastron

Chrysemys picta belli (Emydidae) ((Testudines))

-wide oak leaf patterned dark coloration down midline of plastron

Chrysemys picta marginata (Emydidae) ((Testudines))

- narrower dark coloration down midline of plastron

Graptemys geographica (Emydidae) ((Testudines))

- keeled carapace

- lower keel without peaks

- uniform cream/yellow plastron

Graptemys ouachitensis (Emydidae) ((Testudines))

- strongly keeled carapace

- brown spot on chin

- 2 large spots behind eyes

Graptemys pseudogeographica (Emydidae) ((Testudines, Squamata))

- strongly keeled carapace

-lacks chin and eye spots

Apalone mutica (Trionychidae) ((Testudines))

- smooth leading edge of carapace

Apalone spinifera (Trionychidae) ((Testudines))

- row of spines on leading edge of carapace

Ophisaurus attenuatus (Anguidae) ((Lacertilia))

- looks like a snake

- ear opening

- tan background with black stripes

Aspidoscelis sexlineatus (Teiidae) ((Lacertilia))

- slender body

- six stripes

- very long tail

- rough scales

Plestiodon fasciatus (Scincidae) ((Lacertilia))

- chunky

- shiny/smooth scales

- central dorsal stripe forks over top of head

- 5 stripes

- blue tail when young

Plestiodon septentrionalis (Scincidae) ((Lacertilia))

- dorsal stripe does not extend onto head (head = solid)

- broader stripes

- orange chin in adult males