California Turtles

This 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

Testudines (Chelonia) - Turtles

Cheloniidae - Sea Turtles

Caretta - Loggerhead Sea Turtles

C. caretta - Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Chelonia - Green Sea Turtles

C. mydas - Green Sea Turtle

Eretmochelys - Hawksbill Sea Turtles

E. imbricata - Hawksbill Sea Turtle

E. i. bissa - Pacific Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Lepidochelys - Ridley Sea turtles

L. olivacea - Olive Ridley Sea Turtle

Chelydridae - Snapping Turtles

Chelydra - Snapping Turtles

C. serpentina - Common Snapping Turtle

C. s. serpentina - Eastern Snapping Turtle I

Dermochelyidae - Leatherback Sea Turtles

Dermochelys - Leatherback Sea Turtle

D. coriacea - Leatherback Sea Turtle

Emydidae - Box and Water or Pond Turtles

Chrysemys - Painted Turtles

C. picta - Painted Turtle

C. p. bellii - Western Painted Turtle I

Actinemys - Pacific Pond Turtles

A. marmorata - Western Pond Turtle

A. m. marmorata - Northern Pacific Pond Turtle
(A. marmorata - Western Pond Turtle)

A. m. pallida - Southern Pacific Pond Turtle
(A. marmorata - Western Pond Turtle)

Trachemys - Sliders

T. scripta - Pond Slider

T. s. elegans - Red-eared Slider I

Kinosternidae - Mud and Musk Turtles

Kinosternon - American Mud Turtles

K. sonoriense - Sonoran Mud Turtle

K. s. sonoriense - Sonoran Mud Turtle

Testudinidae - Land Tortoises

Gopherus - Gopher Tortoises

G. agassizii - Desert Tortoise

Trionychidae - Softshell Turtles

Apalone - North American Softshells

A. spinifera - Spiny Softshell

A. s. emoryi - Texas Spiny Softshell I

I = Introduced

Listed by Common Names

Box and Water Turtles

Western Painted Turtle I

Northern Pacific Pond Turtle

Red-eared Slider I

Southern Pacific Pond Turtle

Mud and Musk Turtles

Sonoran Mud Turtle

Seaturtles

Green Seaturtle

Leatherback Seaturtle

Loggerhead Seaturtle

Olive Ridley Seaturtle

Pacific Hawksbill Seaturtle

Snapping Turtles

Eastern Snapping Turtle I

Softshell Turtles

Texas Spiny Softshell I

Tortoises

Desert Tortoise

I = Introduced

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