Name this turtle?

10 years ago

So..I have looked high and low, and I can't decide what it is. The head coloring was orange, I know it looks brownish in the picture, but it was very clearly bright orange. Its nose came to an upward point, more like I would think of with a snapping turtle. I will post another picture of its shell. It didn't seem aggressive, as I got pretty close.

I was thinking some kind of snapping, weird red-eared slider that didn't have lines, but was mottled instead? Or a 3 toed. Maybe some kind of map turtle? I don't think its boxed bc the shell didn't come up like I have always seen, it was more flat.

Just thought I would ask around here since this group is a wealth of knowledge!

Thanks-
Bre

Comments (9)

momofsteelex3
Original Author
10 years ago
Here's the top of the shell:
helenh
10 years ago
Breeding turtles turn orange. Breeding male box turtles are comical and have lots of trouble. I had one once that I had to keep turning over. Are you sure there is no hinge in the lower shell? It looks like a box turtle maybe a little too flat but that's what it looks like to me. Don't worry about the patterns on the shell. My box turtles are a dull green brown but prairie box turtles have patterns.

Here is a link that might be useful: box turtles
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Okiedawn OK Zone 7
10 years ago
My best guess is that it is an eastern three-toed box turtle.

Try comparing yours to the linked photo.

One thing I have learned since moving here is that all amimals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and insects do not match the general description for their type. There always are some that are atypical in appearance. For example, bobcats have quite a lot of variation in their coats and even in the length of their tails. Lady bugs are a great case in point. We have them in a whole rainbow of colors and I didn't know that until after we moved here. Grasshoppers are the same way. Just on our property we have them in various shades of green, brown, yellow, black and even red or orange. Who knew? I didn't.

Dawn

Here is a link that might be useful: Turtles of Oklahoma
mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma
10 years ago
Tommy would be a good name.

Mike
fatboyreptiles
10 years ago
Three toed box turtle....
soonergrandmom
10 years ago
Mike, LOL LOL LOL

You did respond to the original statement.
momofsteelex3
Original Author
10 years ago
Helen- I had NO idea turtles could change colors!! That's neat! Thank you for that piece of education!

Dawn- That's what it looked like! Just without the "normal" boxed shell!

Mike- LOL Well if I see it again, I will call it Tommy!
helenh
10 years ago
MOMO I may have mislead you. I don't know that the males turn orange just when breeding but they do get more orange as they mature to breeding age. The young turtles don't have the bright orange head and legs. The males that I have seen breeding had orange eyes and very red orange head and legs. The orange must look really sexy to lady turtles.
momofsteelex3
Original Author
10 years ago
Helen- Oh, ok, I get it now!!! LOL about the orange looking sexy to the lady turtles!! I am still trying to learn about all this stuff that surrounds me, and sometimes I think Google is not a good source, as it often has conflicting information. I just need to buy some books, I guess.