Western Pond Turtle
Actinemys marmorata
![[Western Pond Turtle]](/images/8ds.jpg)
Description
Physical
Our only native turtle species, it is a medium sized turtle that rarely exceeds 20 centimeters (8 inches) in length. The carapace does not arch as much as many other species. Face more blunt shaped than many other species.
Color and Pattern
Olive or brown above usually with lines and dashes radiating from the center of the carapace shields. Plastron shields yellow, young specimens often have a dark blotch at center of plastron. Head and limbs are typically olive with black spots.
Sexual Dimorphism
Males typically have a lighter throat and flatter shell than females, and longer rear claws.
Habitat
Primarily a pond turtle, it also inhabits pools in slower moving streams. Generally avoids large lakes and rapid moving water. Aquatic vegetation is necessary, likes to bask on logs. Females need suitable habitat away from the pond where they can dig nests and deposit their eggs. Some ponds that are boxed in by roads and concrete still support turtles, but successful breeding is rare at those locations.
Diet
Young pond turtles feed on a variety of insects, small amphibians and fish, and aquatic vegetation. As they grow older, their diet shifts to a diet composed primarily of aquatic vegetation.
Distribution Range
General range map taken from CWHR.
Museum records taken from following institutions: MVZ Herps, NMNH VZHerps.
Found throughout Shasta County.
Typical Elevation
We do not yet have enough records from distinct localities to calculate typical elevation. We need 18 more distinct localities.
Reproduction and Young
Females often leave the water and travel some distance to deposit their eggs. Lays 3 to 14 eggs from April to August (Stebbins 2003 pg 250). Young have yellow pigment on legs and head.
Additional Information
Images
Unless otherwise noted, all images are of wild specimens in Shasta County.
Please be kind, do not hotlink images and do not use images without permission of the copyright owner.
![[Western Pond Turtle]](/images/8sm.jpg)
![[Western Pond Turtle]](/images/9sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
The larger turtle is the Pond Turtle. The smaller turtle is a Red Eared Slider. Redding, CA
![[Western Pond Turtle]](/images/82sm.jpg)
©Michael A. Peters
The Northwestern Pond is on the left. A Red-eared Slider is on the right. Note the different carapace shape. Pond adjacent to the Sacramento River Trail near the Sun Dial Bridge. Redding, CA
Habitat Shots
Unless otherwise noted, these habitat shots are from within Shasta County where this species is known to occur.
![[Western Pond Turtle habitat]](/images/66sm.jpg)
Species of Special Concern
This species is listed as a Species of Special Concern by the State of California Department of Fish & Game.
If you come across this species, please note that it may be a violation of state law to collect it or even touch it. Federal laws may also apply.
If you can, please do the following:
- Accurately record the location where the animal was found. The best way to do this is with a GPS device.
- Photograph the specimen. Take as many photographs as you can without causing too much stress to the animal.
- Take note of the habitat and its condition. Photographs are good for this, but do not always tell the entire story.
- Take note on any possible threats to the population. For example, if it is one of our threatened native frog species, is there an American Bullfrog population in the immediate vicinity? Are you aware of an American Bullfrog population in a nearby aquatic system? What about erosion? Introduced trout?
- Report the sighting to the California Natural Diversity Database.
It takes a little effort to file a report, but your report may help the necessary agencies protect that population. It is difficult for them to protect populations they do not know about or populations they think are extirpated. Even species of special concern that are currently doing well in Shasta County should be reported. When population declines happen, they tend to happen very fast. Reports of specific localities where a species is known to have occured may help researchers determine survey sites if our population of one of these species does crash.
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