California Turtles

 
Scientific Names Common Names



 

Below is a complete llst of turtles occuring naturally in California, including introduced species with well-established populations.
The list is organized by families and ordered by scientific name and also by common name.
Follow the links for information and pictures illustrating each animal and its habitat.

This list is based on the lists published by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. This taxonomy is not universally accepted. For comparison, the names used by two other authorities - Robert Stebbins' Western Field Guide, and the Center for North American Herpetology - are listed to the right.

Listed by Scientific Names
Following the SSAR list Following Robert Stebbins' 2003 Western Field Guide Following the CNAH online list (updated 11/07)
     
Testudines (Chelonia) - Turtles    
     
Cheloniidae - Sea Turtles    
Caretta - Loggerhead Sea Turtles    
   C. caretta - Loggerhead Sea Turtle C. Caretta - Loggerhead C. Caretta - Loggerhead
Chelonia - Green Sea Turtles    
   C. mydas - Green Sea Turtle C. mydas - Green Turtle C. mydas - Green Turtle
Eretmochelys - Hawksbill Sea Turtles    
  E. imbricata - Hawksbill Sea Turtle    
      E. i. bissa - Pacific Hawksbill Sea Turtle E. i. bissa - Hawksbill E. i. bissa - Pacific Hawksbill
Lepidochelys - Ridley Sea turtles    
  L. olivacea - Olive Ridley Sea Turtle L. olivacea - Olive Ridley L. olivacea - Pacific Ridley
     
Chelydridae - Snapping Turtles    
Chelydra - Snapping Turtles    
  C. serpentina - Common Snapping Turtle    
      C. s. serpentina - Eastern Snapping Turtle  I C. s. serpentina - Common Snapping Turtle C. s. serpentina - Common Snapping Turtle
     
Dermochelyidae - Leatherback Sea Turtles    
Dermochelys - Leatherback Sea Turtle    
  D. coriacea - Leatherback Sea Turtle D. coriacea - Leatherback D. coriacea - Leatherback
     
Emydidae - Box and Water or Pond Turtles    
Chrysemys - Painted Turtles    
  C. picta - Painted Turtle    
      C. p. bellii - Western Painted Turtle  I C. p. bellii - Western Painted Turtle C. p. bellii - Western Painted Turtle
Actinemys - Pacific Pond Turtles    
  A. marmorata - Western Pond Turtle Clemmys marmorata  
      A. m. marmorata - Northern Pacific Pond Turtle
                                   (A. marmorata - Western Pond Turtle) 		C. m. marmorata - Northwestern Pond Turtle A. m. marmorata - Northwestern Pond Turtle
      A. m. pallida - Southern Pacific Pond Turtle
                           (A. marmorata - Western Pond Turtle) 		C. m. pallida - Southwestern Pond Turtle A. m. pallida - Southwestern Pond Turtle
Trachemys - Sliders    
  T. scripta - Pond Slider    
      T. s. elegans - Red-eared Slider  I T. s. elegans - Red-eared Slider T. s. elegans - Red-eared Slider
     
Kinosternidae - Mud and Musk Turtles    
Kinosternon - American Mud Turtles    
  K. sonoriense - Sonoran Mud Turtle    
      K. s. sonoriense - Sonoran Mud Turtle K. s.sonoriense - Sonora Mud Turtle K. s.sonoriense - Sonoran Mud Turtle
     
Testudinidae - Land Tortoises    
Gopherus - Gopher Tortoises    
  G. agassizii - Desert Tortoise G. agassizii - Desert Tortoise G. agassizii - Desert Tortoise
     
Trionychidae - Softshell Turtles    
Apalone - North American Softshells    
  A. spinifera - Spiny Softshell (No subspecies recognized)  
      A. s. emoryi - Texas Spiny Softshell   I Trionyx spiiferus emoryi - Texas Spiny Softshell A. s. emoryi - Texas Spiny Softshell
     
     
I  = Introduced    
     
Listed by Common Names
Following the SSAR list Following Robert Stebbins' 2003 Western Field Guide Following the CNAH online list (updated 11/07)
     
Box and Water Turtles    
Western Painted Turtle  I Western Painted Turtle Western Painted Turtle
Northern Pacific Pond Turtle Northwestern Pond Turtle Northwestern Pond Turtle
Red-eared Slider  I Red-eared Slider Red-eared Slider
Southern Pacific Pond Turtle Southwestern Pond Turtle Southwestern Pond Turtle
     
Mud and Musk Turtles    
Sonoran Mud Turtle Sonora Mud Turtle Sonoran Mud Turtle
     
Seaturtles Sea Turtles Sea Turtles
Green Seaturtle Green Turtle Green Turtle
Leatherback Seaturtle Leatherback Leatherback
Loggerhead Seaturtle Loggerhead Loggerhead
Olive Ridley Seaturtle Pacific Ridley Pacific Ridley
Pacific Hawksbill Seaturtle Hawksbill Pacific Hawksbill
     
Snapping Turtles    
Eastern Snapping Turtle  I Common Snapping Turtle Common Snapping Turtle
     
Softshell Turtles    
Texas Spiny Softshell  I Texas Spiny Softshell Texas Spiny Softshell
     
Tortoises    
Desert Tortoise Desert Tortoise Desert Tortoise
     
I  = Introduced    
     


Return to the top   © 2000 - 2008