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Western Pond Turtle
Actinemys marmorata

  • Habitat: Lives in freshwater lake and pond habitats
  • Range: Western U.S.A
  • Natural Diet: Aquatic invertebrates and plants
  • Status in the Wild: THREATENED

 

 Fun Facts

  • Western pond turtles are native to California

  • These freshwater turtles have dark brown to olive colored bodies and shells with a carapace of 5 to 8 inches in length.

  • They are amphibious and live in and around freshwater bodies.

  • They are usually seen basking together in the sun.

  • Although they are comfortable in deep water, they build terrestrial nests.

  • Females lay half to a dozen eggs once or twice a year.

 

Conservation Threats

Major threats to wild populations of this species are:

  • Habitat loss due to urbanization - agricultural practices

  • The hatchlings of these turtles are predated upon by invasive species such are American bullfrogs and red-eared slider turtles.

  • Red eared slider turtles also compete with adult western pond turtles for their home ranges

 

 

Pacific Pond Turtle Pacific pond turtles are native to California

 

They brumate at the base of the pond during the winter months. During this period, they are only seen on sunny days when they leave the pond to bask in the sun

 

Map Distributional range in the U.S.