A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California
California Turtles World Range Maps
These maps are an approximate illustration of the worldwide distribution of established native and non-native species of turtles that inhabit California. They are designed to give a general idea of where each turtle might be found. Turtles are expected to be found within the colored area in places where suitable habitat and conditions occur. In some cases, the current range may be fragmented or considerably diminished from the range illustrated here, and some of these turtles have been extirpated from the state, so their maps show their historic range. This page has more detailed maps of the distribution of turtles in California only. Click on the name link for pictures and information about frogs that are found in California. On the top left side of those pages you can find links to more pictures of the frogs from other areas besides California, if available. Related frogs that do not occur in California are listed below the California snakes. If pictures are available for them their name will also have a blue link. More Lists And Information About California Turtles |
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Pond Turtles - Actinemys |
Sonora Mud Turtles - Kinosternon sonoriense |
North American Tortoises (Gopher Tortoises) - Gopherus |
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| Red: Actinemys marmorata - Northwestern Pond Turtle Orange: Actinemys pallida - Southwestern Pond Turtle |
Red: Kinosternon sonoriense sonoriense - Sonora Mud Turtle (Extinct in California) - Not found in California Dark Blue: Kinosternon sonoriense longifemorale - Sonoyta Mud Turtle |
Approximate range of Gopherus - North American Tortoises (Gopher Tortoises) Red: Gopherus agassizii - Mojave Desert Tortoise - Not found in California Orange: Gopherus berlandieri - Texas Tortoise Green: Gopherus evgoodei - Goode's Thornscrub Tortoise Purple: Gopherus flavomarginatus - Bolson Tortoise Dark Blue: Gopherus morafkai - Sonoran Desert Tortoise Yellow: Gopherus polyphemus - Gopher Tortoise Gray: Range overlap areas |
| Sea Turtles | ||
Loggerhead Sea Turtle |
Green Sea Turtle |
Leatherback Sea Turtle |
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| Approximate range of Caretta caretta - Loggerhead Sea Turtle Dark Blue: Most common range of adults and large juveniles Medium Blue: Less common range of adults and large juveniles. Range of oceanic juveniles. Red: Some nesting areas |
Approximate range of Chelonia mydas - Green Sea Turtle Dark Blue: Most common range of adults and large juveniles Medium Blue: Less common range of adults and large juveniles. Range of oceanic juveniles. Red: Some nesting areas |
Approximate range of Dermochelys coriacea - Leatherback Sea Turtle Dark Blue: Most common range of adults and large juveniles Medium Blue: Approximate total range Red: Some nesting areas |
Hawksbill Sea Turtle |
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle |
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| Approximate range of Eretmochelys imbricata - Hawksbill Sea Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata bissa - Pacific Hawksbill Sea Turtle Dark Blue: Most common range Medium Blue: Less common range and range of oceanic juveniles Red: Some nesting areas Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata - Atlantic Hawksbill Sea Turtle Dark Green: Most common range Lighter Green: Less common range and range of oceanic juveniles Red: Some nesting areas |
Approximate range of Lepidochelys olivacea - Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Dark Blue: Most common range Medium Blue: Less common range and range of oceanic juveniles Red: Some nesting areas |
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Non-Native Turtes Established in California |
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Snapping Turtle |
Painted Turtles - Chrysemys picta |
Pond Sliders - Trachemys scripta |
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| Red: Approximate natural and introduced range of Chelydra serpentina - Snapping Turtle |
Dark Blue: Chrysemys picta bellii - Western Painted Turtle - Not found in California Yellow: Chrysemys picta marginata - Midland Painted Turtle Red: Chrysemys picta picta - Estern Painted Turtle Gray: Intergrade zone Green: Chrysemys dorsalis - Southern Painted Turtle (formerly C. p. dorsalis) |
Dark Blue: Introduced range of Trachemys scripta elegans - Red-eared Slider Red: Native and introduced California range of Trachemys scripta scripta - Yellow-bellied Slider - Not found in California Purple: Native range of Trachemys scripta elegans - Red-eared Slider Yellow: Trachemys scripta troostii - Cumberland Slider |
Spiny Softshells - Apalone spinifera |
Florida Softshell | Eastern Musk Turtle |
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| Dark Blue: Apalone spinifera emoryi - Texas Spiny Softshell - Not found in California Red: Apalone spinifera spinifera - Eastern Spiny Softshell Fuscia: Apalone spinifera atra - Cuatrocienegas Spiny Softshell Orange: Apalone spinifera aspera - Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell Yellow: Apalone spinifera guadalupensis - Guadalupe Spiny Softshell Green: Apalone spinifera pallida - Pallid Spiny Softshell Gray: Intergrade areas |
Approximate distribution ofApalone ferox - Florida Softshell Red: Natural range Blue: Introduced range in California |
Red: Approximate natural range and introduced range in California of Sternotherus odoratus - Eastern Musk Turtle |
River Cooter |
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| Red: Approximate natural and introduced California range of Pseudemys concinna - River Cooter | ||
