California Turtles



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This is a complete llst of Turtles that occur naturally in California, including introduced species with well-established populations.

Turtles are sorted by family and listed by scientific name and by common name on a separate list.
The blue links lead to an information page for each type of turtle found in California.
Follow the links for information about each animal along with pictures of animals and their habitat and some videos.

This list is based on the lists published by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.
A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California



 

Scientific Name
 Common Name Original Description Former or Other Name
       
Testudines (Chelonia) Turtles    
       
Cheloniidae Sea Turtles    
       
Caretta Loggerhead Sea Turtles Rafinesque, 1814  
Caretta caretta Loggerhead Sea Turtle Linnaeus, 1758  
       
Chelonia Green Sea Turtles Brongniart, 1800  
Chelonia mydas Green Sea Turtle Linnaeus, 1758  
       
Eretmochelys Hawksbill Sea Turtles Fitzinger 1843  
Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill Sea Turtle Linnaeus, 1766  
Eretmochelys imbricata bissa Pacific Hawksbill Sea Turtle Rüppell, 1835  
       
Lepidochelys Ridley Sea turtles Fitzinger, 1843  
Lepidochelys olivacea Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Eschscholtz, 1829  
       
Chelydridae Snapping Turtles    
       
Chelydra Snapping Turtles Schweigger, 1812  
Chelydra serpentina Snapping Turtle Linnaeus, 1758 Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina serpentina  I Eastern Snapping Turtle Linnaeus, 1758  
       
Dermochelyidae Leatherback Sea Turtles    
       
Dermochelys Leatherback Sea Turtle Blainville, 1816  
Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback Sea Turtle Vandelli, 1761  
       
Emydidae Box and Water or Pond Turtles    
       
Chrysemys Painted Turtles Gray, 1844  
Chrysemys picta Painted Turtle Schneider, 1783  
Chrysemys picta bellii  I Western Painted Turtle Gray, 1831  
       
Actinemys Western Pond Turtles Agassiz, 1857 formerly Clemmys
Actinemys marmorata
Pacific Pond Turtle Baird and Girard, 1852 formerly Actinemys marmorata marmorata
and Actinemys marmorata pallida
       
Trachemys Sliders Agassiz, 1857  
Trachemys scripta Pond Slider Schoepff, 1792  
Trachemys scripta elegans I Red-eared Slider Wied-Neuwied, 1838  
       
Kinosternidae Mud and Musk Turtles    
       
Kinosternon American Mud Turtles Spix, 1824  
Kinosternon sonoriense Sonoran Mud Turtle LeConte, 1854  
Kinosternon sonoriense sonoriense  F Sonoran Mud Turtle LeConte, 1854  
       
Testudinidae Land Tortoises    
       
Gopherus Gopher Tortoises Rafinesque, 1832  
Gopherus agassizii Desert Tortoise (Agassiz's Desert Tortoise) Cooper, 1863  
       
Trionychidae Softshell Turtles    
       
Apalone North American Softshells Rafinesque, 1832  
Apalone spinifera Spiny Softshell Lesueur, 1827  
Apalone spinifera emoryi  I Texas Spiny Softshell Agassiz, 1857  



F = Formerly present, now probably extinct in California

I = An established Alien species introduced into California
Organized By Common Name
       
Box and Water Turtles      
Western Painted Turtle  I      
Red-eared Slider  I      
Pacific Pond Turtle      
       
Mud and Musk Turtles      
Sonoran Mud Turtle  F      
       
Sea Turtles      
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      



F = Formerly present, now probably extinct in California

I = An established Alien species introduced into California


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