Turtles In Georgia (32 Different Species)

There are 32 types of turtles in Georgia which include freshwater aquatic turtles, terrestrial box turtles and tortoises, and even sea turtles.

Georgia is a turtle rich state because of the climate and all the different wet and humid habitats that turtles love. Turtle lovers from all around can go and look for these different species.

When you are out and about, you shouldn’t take turtles from their natural habitat to keep them at home. While there’s nothing wrong with keeping pet turtles, be sure to adopt a turtle if you can or find a breeder that sells captive bred turtles. 

Taking wild turtles may be illegal, it can harm the local environment, and wild turtles don’t do well in enclosures. Also, if you can no longer take care of a pet turtle, donate it to a reptile adoption agency or your local vet so they can find a good home for it.

For more information on adopting turtles, check out the adoption page at allturtles.com.

Now, let’s learn about the 32 types of turtles that can be found in Georgia. 

Types of Turtles in Georgia

1. Bog Turtle

• Experience Level: *Expert
• Family: Emydidae
• Scientific Name: Glyptemys muhlenbergii
• Other Names: Muhlenberg’s turtle
• Adult Size: 3.5 to 5 inches (9 to 12.5 cm)
• Lifespan: Up to 40 years
• Average Price Range: Illegal to own, Federally protected species
• Conservation Status: Endangered

The Bog Turtle is North America’s smallest turtle, and it’s the most endangered. They only grow to 3 or 4 inches long, though rarely they may get to 5 inches.

Bog turtles are a federally protected species and they are illegal to own or sell. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop some people from taking them from the wild and selling them. They are tiny, extremely cute turtles, and so, there are those out there that would rather take them from the wild than enjoy them in their natural habitat.

Bog turtles live in shallow bogs as their name suggests, but they also spend a lot of time on land. They like humid areas with a lot of vegetation and soft ground. They like to burrow underneath to hide from predators and escape very hot days. 

Habitat destruction, predators, illegal pet trade, and a lengthy sexual maturation age have taken a toll on the Bog turtles’ numbers. Fortunately, there are a lot of people out there trying to save them. 

Georgia is running a Bog Turtle Headstart program in an effort to increase their numbers. Much like the conservation efforts employed to save sea turtles, this program gathers egg-bearing females so their eggs hatch in captivity.

Two years after these eggs hatch the little Bog turtles are released into the wild.

Bog turtles spend a lot of time buried in the mud. They are tiny, shy little turtles, and are typically active in spring, Summer, and fall, and then hibernate through the cold winter. They will burrow into mud at the bottom of a bog up to 18 inches deep to hibernate.

Bog turtles are omnivorous and will eat worms, duckweed, insects, snails and slugs, berries, seeds, and whatever they can find. Though they spend a lot of time on the land, they usually retreat to the water to feed.

Softshell Turtles in Georgia

2. Florida Softshell Turtle

• Experience level: Intermediate
• Family: Trionychidae
• Scientific Name: Apalone ferox
• Other Names: Softshell turtle
• Average Adult Size: 6 – 24 inches
• Life Span: 20 – 50 years
• Average Price Range: approximately $60 – 260
• Conservation Status: Least concern

Florida softshell turtles don’t only live in the Sunshine state. You can often find them in muddy or soft bottomed marshes, ponds, or streams in Georgia. 

These flattened looking turtles have a soft, rubbery, or leathery shell that’s often dark brown or olive colored. Females grow nearly twice as large as males, but they have shorter tails. Juveniles look similar to the small males, except adult softshell turtles are darker.

If you see any softshell turtles out of the water, be careful as they often have a bad attitude. Their necks can reach half the length of their shell, they have a sharp bite that can easily break the skin, and these turtles can emit a stinky musk.

When they aren’t threatening local Georgians, the Florida Softshell turtle is often in the water or basking on logs or along water banks.

These aquatic turtles are mostly carnivorous, eating amphibians, fish, carrion, insects, tadpoles, and occasionally small waterfowl.

3. Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell

• Experience level: Intermediate
• Family: Trionychidae
• Scientific Name: Apalone spinifera aspera
• Other Names: N/A 
• Average Adult Size: 5 – 19 inches
• Life Span: 25 – 50 years
• Average Price Range: approximately $60 – $200
• Conservation Status: Least concern

Of all the flat turtles, the Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell turtle is the flattest. They are still just as fast on land as they are in the water and once they reach full size, they have very few predators.

Lighter in color than the Florida Softshell turtle, the Gulf Coast Spiny is tan, olive, or olive grey with black spots along the top shell (carapace). It also has small, fleshy bumps along the front and top of the shell. 

Like all softshell turtles, there is distinct sexual dimorphism between the males and females. The ladies often get twice as large as the little male turtles.

Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell turtles like to call marshes, lakes, ponds, and rivers home. They prefer some vegetation and sandy or muddy bottoms. There they can hide in the sand or mud and ambush prey. 

Mostly carnivorous, these turtles will eat fish, mollusks, amphibians, insects, worms, and any other meat sources that they can fit in their mouths. 

Snapping Turtles in Georgia

4. Common Snapping Turtle

• Experience level: Intermediate to Expert
• Family: Chelydrida
• Scientific Name: Chelydra Serpentina
• Other Names: Snapping Turtle, Snapper, Eastern Snapping Turtle
• Average Adult Size: 8 to 20 inches
• Life Span: 30 – 50 years
• Average Price Range: Approximately $40 to $120
• Conservation Status: Least concern

Common snapping turtles are so widely distributed that they can be found in nearly every state but a few western locales. They are also known as habitat generalists, meaning they can make the most of nearly any habitat. They do need water, but they can even tolerate brackish water. 

You can recognize the Common Snapping turtle from the thick, ridged, dark colored carapace and large, muscular looking limbs. They also have very long, plate covered tails that are nearly as long as their shells. 

The bottom shell (plastron) is very small, usually white, and covers very little of its body. You probably won’t see the plastron on wild snapping turtles because when they come out of the water they can have a bad attitude.

Though usually shy, once they are on land they will hiss, open their mouths very wide and try to bite. Don’t try to handle snapping turtles as they can bite very hard and cause deep lacerations.

Common Snapping turtles have three keels running along the length of their black, dark brown, or dark green shells. As they age, these ridges start to smooth out.

While they are omnivorous, only about a third of their diet is plant material. Most of the time they will bury themselves in the mud at the bottom of the water and wait for tasty morsels to get close. Then they use their strong, long necks to ambush prey and eat it whole or bite it in pieces.

Snapping turtles eat fish, frogs, amphibians, small turtles, insects, some vegetation, and anything they can get into their mouths.

5. Alligator Snapping Turtle

• Experience level: Expert
• Family: Chelydrida
• Scientific Name: Macrochelys temminckii
• Common Name: Loggerhead Snapper
• Average Adult Size: 13-30 inches
• Life Span: 30 – 50 years
• Average Price Range: Approximately $50 to $300
• Conservation Status: Populations in decline

Alligator Snapping Turtles are the largest freshwater turtles in Georgia and the entire United States. They grow to weights as heavy as 200 pounds, and their carapace can exceed 30 inches.

These heavy beasts have thick, pointed shells, heavy limbs, and huge, muscular heads. Their scutes rise up in points and three ridges along their shell. They have fleshy points along their heads and limbs giving them a very prehistoric appearance.

These turtles lead a very sedentary life and rarely leave the water. Females will venture on land to lay eggs, but most others never leave the water, even to bask. To warm up, these turtles will swim close to the surface but quickly return to the bottom.

They can hold their breath for nearly an hour while submerged. They stay in the water so long that algae often adorn their shells. 

Alligator Snapping turtles have the strongest bite force of any turtle. They can produce up to 1,000 pounds of force in one bite. If you value your digits, never approach an Alligator Snapping turtle if you see one on land.

In the water, Alligator Snapping turtles don’t mess with people. There have been very few documented attacks, and these were because people were trying to handle them.

While hanging out at the bottom of the water, Alligator Snapping turtles will open their mouths and wiggle their small worm-like tongue around. When a fish or other aquatic creature comes to inspect it, the turtle gulps it down so fast you’d think it was a magic trick.

The Alligator Snapping turtle isn’t listed federally as endangered, but a few states have listed this species as threatened. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is thinking of adding this species to the list of endangered animals.

Due to habitat loss, and overharvesting for their meat, the Alligator Snapping turtle numbers are in decline. It takes 11 to 13 years for Alligator Snappers to reach sexual maturity, then they only mate once a year.

Because most turtle species live for such a long time, they take time to reach sexual maturity. This is one of the main reasons that so many turtle populations are dwindling.

Painted Turtles in Georgia

6.  Eastern Painted Turtle

• Experience level: Beginner
• Family: Emydidae
• Scientific Name: Chrysemys picta
• Common Name: Painted Turtle
• Average Adult Size: 4 – 10 inches
• Life Span: 30 – 50 years
• Average Price Range: Between $30 to $150
• Conservation Status: Least Concern

Painted Turtles are the most widespread turtle in the USA. There are several subspecies of these turtles including Eastern, Southern, Western, and Midland Painted Turtles. They are all very similar looking with few differences.

It may be difficult to tell the difference between subspecies, and some even mate between species making identification even more difficult.

Eastern Painted turtles inhabit wetlands, ponds, streams, and other slow-moving waterways from Nova Scotia to Northern Georgia. They prefer waters with a lot of vegetation they can swim in.

These turtles have smooth, flattened carapaces that are olive to black with a red crescent or border on some of the marginal scutes. Their plastron is plain yellow with no patterns.

Their skin is the same color as their carapace but there are yellow stripes along the head, neck, and limbs.

Painted turtles love to bask, and you can often see numbers of them crowding logs or banks. They will quickly slide back into the water whenever they feel threatened.

Young painted turtles tend to eat more insects, fish, and other sources of meat, but as they age they start eating more veggies. Painted turtles are omnivorous and like to hunt in the vegetation for fish, snails, crustaceans, and tadpoles, or they eat these plants.

Some plants they like to eat include duckweed, water hyacinth, water lily, and algae.

7. Midland Painted Turtle

• Experience Level: Beginner
• Family: Emydidae
• Scientific Name: Chrysemys picta marginata 
• Other Names: N/A
• Adult Size: Between 4 and 10 inches
• Lifespan: Between 30 and 50 years
• Average price range: Between $30 and $150
• Conservation Status: Special concern

The highly colorful Midland Painted Turtle likes to hang out in ponds, lakes, small, gently moving creeks, and marshes. They like areas with plenty of basking opportunities, a lot of vegetation, and soft bottoms. 

The shell is oval, slightly domed, and smooth. Carapace colors range from light green, olive green to black shades, while the plastron is a darker yellow to tan with a dark to black marking along the midline.

Along the neck, head, and limbs you’ll find yellow or cream colored stripes with red stripes intermingled along their neck and arms. These turtles have a large swath of yellow behind their eyes and sometimes at the top and back of their head.

Females of the Midland Painted turtle species tend to get bigger than males. The male Midland Painted turtle has a longer tail, and longer front claws though. They also have a concave indentation on their plastron.

Like the Eastern Painted turtle, the Midland is omnivorous. They will feed on fish, mollusks, insects, amphibians, carrion, and vegetation.

Spotted Turtles in Florida

8. Spotted Turtle

• Experience Level: Intermediate to Expert
• Family: Emydidae
• Scientific Name: Clemmys guttata
• Other Names: Polka-dot turtle, “Spotty”
• Adult Size: 4 to 5 inches
• Lifespan: Males up to 65 years; females up to 110 years
• Average Price Range: $200 to $300
• Conservation Status: Endangered

The tiny Spotted Turtle is easy to recognize if you’re lucky enough to see this endangered turtle. It has round yellowish spots all over its black or brownish-black shell, head, neck, and limbs.

As of 2010, Spotted Turtles have been listed as an endangered species, they are also one of the 10 most endangered species due to habitat fragmentation. This means their habitat of swamps, marshy meadows, bogs, and small streams has been taken away from them or split by fences, roadways, and development.

Spotted turtles are highly terrestrial and like to wander. Fences and manmade structures prevent these turtles from wandering and finding mates. Roads are especially treacherous for them as many meet their doom on wide roads.

These turtles only reach 4 or 5 inches in length at full growth, so many motorists don’t even see them when they are trying to cross the roads.

It’s estimated that the Spotted turtle has lost over half of its habitat, leading to population extinctions in some states and areas.

Spotted turtles are omnivores that will eat crustaceans, mollusks, insects, spiders, fish, and vegetation. They only eat underwater though, so their watery habitats are extremely important to their survival. 

Chicken Turtles in Florida

9. Eastern Chicken Turtle

• Experience level: Beginner
• Family: Emydidae
• Scientific Name: Deirochelys reticularia
• Other Names:  N/A
• Average Adult Size:  6 – 9 inches
• Life Span: 13 – 20 years
• Average Price Range: $150 – $300
• Conservation Status: Threatened

Did you know that Chicken turtles were once traded in food markets in the United States? They got their name chicken turtle because of the taste of their meat.

This turtle was overharvested almost to the point of extinction, but as populations declined, people seemed to lose the taste of turtle meat. They have bounced back, but habitat destruction again threatens their numbers.

Chicken turtles have a green, oval shaped carapace that sometimes has a lighter yellow net-like pattern across it. The plastron is yellow and generally unmarked. Their long neck and limbs have yellow stripes.

Though an aquatic species, the Chicken turtle spends a lot of time on land. In fact, they will leave their watery homes to hibernate in the soft forest soil instead of in the wetlands. They will also dig into the soil to hide from the hottest times of the summer.

Another habit that sets these turtles apart is the fact that they lay eggs in early February and March. The eggs then usually spend a year buried before they hatch.

Chicken turtles’ favorite food is crayfish, but they will also eat tadpoles, fish, insects, and other invertebrates. They are predominantly carnivorous but will occasionally eat plant matter.

Map Turtles in Georgia

10. Barbour’s Map Turtle

• Experience level: Intermediate – expert
• Family: Emydidae
• Scientific Name: Graptemys pseudogeographica kohni
• Common Name:  Barbour’s Sawback Turtle, Barbour Map Turtle
• Average Adult Size: 3 – 10 inches
• Life Span: 30 – 50 years
• Average Price Range: Approximately $150
• Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Barbour’s Map Turtles are terrestrial, freshwater turtles that are native to Georgia, Florida, and Alabama.

These turtles have green or grey carapaces with 2 to 4 raised scutes along the midline. In juveniles, these ridges are much more prominent, and eventually wear down as they age, especially in females.

They have a lighter colored plastron that may have some patterns. Their skin is usually lighter colored as well, with lots of black stripes. Females darken considerably as they age, and lose a lot of their patterns. 

Females often get much bigger than full grown males.

The Barbour’s Map turtle prefers fast-flowing, clear waters that have plenty of mollusks and freshwater clams and mussels, their favorite foods. Females have wider jaws able to crack the hardest shells, while males tend to eat softer foods such as insects, snails, and slugs.

11.  Northern Map Turtle

• Experience Level: Beginner
• Family: Emydidae
• Scientific Name: Graptemys geographica
• Other Name: Common map turtle
• Adult Size: Between 4 and 10 ½ inches
• Lifespan: 15 to 20 years
• Average price range: Between $20 and $60
• Conservation Status: Least concern

Northern Map Turtles are also called Common Map Turtles. They inhabit rivers and drainage systems, streams, lakes, and ponds. Just about wherever aquatic vegetation is abundant, and the water is deep with rocky or stony bottoms.

The Northern Map turtle is the most abundant species of map turtle. You can identify these turtles by the olive green, keeled carapace that has topographical looking markings. Their skin is usually olive green, to brown with lighter stripes.

Their plastron is tan to cream colored with dark outlines around the scutes.

Most map turtles love to bask and will often search out habitats that have plenty of rocks, tree limbs, or logs in which to soak up the sun’s rays. At the slightest disturbance though, Northern Map turtles will slip into the water. You’ll have to be very quiet to sneak up on these turtles.

Though there is still distinct sexual dimorphism between the males and females, it’s not as prominent as in other map turtle species.

These turtles are mostly carnivorous with females eating larger, tougher shelled mollusks, freshwater clams, and mussels than the males.

12. Alabama Map Turtle

• Experience level: Beginner
• Family: Emydidae
• Scientific Name: Graptemys pulchra
• Common Name: Sawback, Alabama Map Turtle
• Average Adult Size: 5 – 11 inches
• Life Span: 15 – 20 years
• Average Price Range: Approximately $50-150
• Conservation Status: Near threatened

Though very similar looking to Northern Map turtles, you won’t find a map of Alabama on this turtle’s shell. The differences lay in their skin and patterns and the dorsal keel. On the Alabama Map turtle, the keel has small, separate bumps.

The head also has a larger section of lighter coloring instead of the stripes on Common Map turtles.

The Alabama Map turtle is also only found along the North-Western edge of Georgia, while the Northern Map turtle is fairly abundant throughout the state.

While this species likes to inhabit large, fast moving streams and rivers, they have been found in both muddy and rocky habitats.

Females have larger heads and bigger jaw muscles for cracking through shells of mollusks, clams, and other crustaceans. Males which are much smaller tend to eat more insects and insect larvae.

Mud Turtles in Georgia

13. Striped Mud Turtle 

• Experience level: Beginner
• Family: Kinosternidae
• Scientific Name: Kinosternon baurii
• Other Names: 3-striped mud turtle, lined mud turtle
• Average Adult Size: 3 – 4 inches
• Life Span: 40 to 50 years
• Average Price Range: Approximately $100 – $160
• Conservation Status: Least concern

Striped Mud Turtles are also called 3-Striped Mud Turtle, 3-Lined Mud Turtle, and Lined Mud Turtle. These turtles are very small turtles that rarely grow more than 4 inches from carapace tip to tip. They are easily recognized because of the three orange, yellow, or red stripes that run laterally along the length of their carapace.

Though in North Carolina the Striped Mud turtle doesn’t have these racing stripes, instead, their carapace is plain black or brown. Their skin is dark, often black with stripes running from the back of their eyes to the tip of their nostrils.

Striped mud turtles are semi-aquatic. They spend a lot of time on land, buried in the soil and leaf litter. In the water they barely ever come out to bask, instead, they will swim toward the surface to warm up.

Speaking of water, these turtles prefer still waters such as swamps, ponds, wetlands, and drainage canals.

These turtles are omnivorous. They eat mostly aquatic invertebrates and plant matter.

14. Eastern Mud Turtle

• Experience Level: Beginner
• Family: Kinosternidae
• Scientific Name: Kinosternon subrubrum
• Other Names: Common mud turtle
• Adult Size: 3 to 4 inches
• Lifespan: 40 to 50 years
• Average Price Range: $20 – $100
• Conservation Status: Least concern

Also known as the Common Mud Turtle, these turtles have a high domed carapace that has no ridges or patterns. It’s usually brown, but can also be olive colored or black. Their limbs are usually solid colored, but the head can have lighter colored markings or stripes.

The plastron is solid colored as well, but it is double hinged like a box turtle. It can pull itself into the shell for protection against predators such as dogs, raccoons, and crows.

The Eastern Mud turtle is often confused with the Musk turtle, or stinkpot because it too can produce a foul musk to protect itself when it feels threatened.

They prefer slow moving waterways with a lot of vegetation. They are not great swimmers and use vegetation or slightly sloping banks to reach the surface for air.

Though the Eastern Mud turtle is a freshwater turtle, sometimes they can withstand brackish waters on occasion. They need soft, muddy bottoms with a lot of vegetation.

When hibernating, the Mud turtle will dig into the soft ground and bury itself until spring. They don’t travel far from water because they are slow moving and prefer the safety of their pond.

Eastern Pond turtles are omnivorous, though they tend to eat more insects and mollusks than vegetation. 

Terrapins in Georgia

15. Northern Diamondback Terrapin

• Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Family: Emydidae
• Scientific Name: Malaclemys terrapin terrapin
• Other Names: Diamond-backed terrapin
• Adult Size: 4.5 to 9 inches (11.5 to 23 cm)
• Lifespan: 25 to 40 years
• Average Price Range: $250 to $600
• Conservation Status: Special concern in some states

Diamondback Terrapins are the only species of turtles that live exclusively in brackish waters. They range from the coasts of Massachusetts to Texas. Though they have a long ranging habitat, these turtles are on the decline.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, these turtles were hunted for food and the eponymous turtle soup. Though this practice has severely declined and stopped in most areas, these turtles still face threats from humans.

Many Diamondback Terrapins meet their doom on roadways and in crab traps. These turtles eat crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp and will chase the crabs into the traps where they are unable to escape and drown.

It’s thought that these turtles got their name from the diamond shaped patterns on their carapace. They are highly decorative, beautiful turtles with concentric rings on their scutes that resemble a diamond shape. The carapace can be grey, green, brown, or black with dark rings.

Their skin can be white to dark grey with black spots and markings. Males often have a black stripe across the upper mouth that resembles a mustache.

These turtles live in coastal tide plains, estuaries, and salt marshes. Occasionally they will venture out into the open ocean, but they can’t survive there for long because the strong salt water will dehydrate them.

They drink water by coming ashore during rainstorms and opening their mouths to catch raindrops, or by drinking water from the top of their brackish habitats.

Diamondback Terrapins are carnivorous, eating crustaceans, fish, and bivalves.

Cooters in Georgia

16. Eastern River Cooter

• Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Family: Emydidae
• Scientific Name: Pseudemys concinna concinna
• Other Names: River Cooter
• Adult Size: Between 8 and 12 inches
• Lifespan: Between 20 and 40 years
• Average Price Range: $20 to $50
• Conservation Status: Special concern

River Cooters are larger turtles that inhabit larger, vegetation heavy rivers and streams. They prefer shallow waters but will live in deeper bodies of water if the populations are dense.

They can grow up to 16 inches long, though usually average around 12 inches. The carapace is olive, to black in coloration with plenty of lighter colored rings or patterns. The plastron is usually plain yellow but may have some grey markings, especially along the scute lines.

Their skin is dark green to black with plenty of yellow stripes, much like painted turtles. The River Cooter’s head is small and narrow compared to the shell size. 

River Cooters are able to breathe relatively well underwater and will sleep at the bottom covered in mud or leaf litter. 

These turtles love to bask, and can often be seen climbing on top of each other, but they are a very shy species and will quickly retreat to the water at the slightest disturbance.

Juvenile River Cooters eat a protein rich diet consisting of insects, fish, and other protein sources. Adults on the other hand are mostly herbivores. They eat up to 95% vegetation such as plants and algae but will eat some insects when the mood strikes them.

17.  Florida Cooter

• Experience level: Beginner
• Family: Emydidae
• Scientific Name: Pseudemys floridana
• Other Names: N/A
• Average Adult Size: 9 – 13 inches
• Life Span: 20 – 40 
• Average Price Range: Approximately $20 – $50
• Conservation Status: Least concern

The Florida Cooter is a subspecies of River Cooters and has some very similar characteristics. They both grow to about the same length and size and have dark carapaces. The Florida Cooter tends to have vertical stripes along the upper shell, while the River Cooter has patterns that resemble a net.

Though very abundant in Florida, in Georgia this turtle is mostly relegated to the southern edges of the state, and along the coastal plains.

While River Cooters live in swift flowing rivers, the Florida species prefer to inhabit ponds, marshes, and wetlands with plenty of vegetation and soft, sandy, or muddy bottoms. This is one of the major distinctions between the species.

The Florida Cooter breeds in early summer and the female will dig numerous nests close to the water where she deposits up to 20 eggs per clutch. She may do this twice a year.

Baby turtles may hatch after 90 days, but they may stay buried in the sand for a year before digging out and facing the world. 

Florida Cooters are more omnivorous than River Cooters. Though females don’t eat as much live prey as males do. They seem to prefer diets consisting more of invertebrates such as insects, mollusks, as well as some fish when they are available.

18. Florida Red-Bellied Cooter 

• Experience level: Beginner
• Family: Emydidae
• Scientific Name: Pseudemys nelsoni
• Other Names: Florida Red Belly turtle
• Average Adult Size: 8 – 15 inches
• Life Span: 30 to 50 years
• Average Price Range: $40 to $150
• Conservation Status: Least concern

Florida Red-Bellied Turtles are vivid, brightly colored turtles. They have the red or orange plastron they are named after as well as broad stripes on the carapace. They have a dark green to black skin with wide, bright yellow stripes along the head, neck, and legs.

Florida Red Bellied Cooters can be found in slow-moving rivers, backwaters, lakes, ponds, and marshes. They even have a slight tolerance to brackish waters though they don’t stay there for extended periods.

These turtles are active all year round, though, in the winter, activity will diminish during the coldest days.

Females are bigger than males, but they have shorter tails and claws. Males use these extended nails to help entice the female into mating. They often stroke the female on the face to help “get her in the mood.”

These turtles seem to like playing with danger, but they do so to protect their eggs. The Florida Red-Belly will sometimes lay its eggs in alligator nests. Yes, that’s right, the same predator that sometimes eats them often cares for their eggs.

Alligators are known for fiercely protecting their nests, so it’s thought that this behavior helps the turtle eggs from being eaten by raccoons and other nest raiders.

When they aren’t getting their enemies to care for their babies, these turtles feed on plant matter such as water hyacinth and hydrilla, as well as algae and other plants.

19. Hieroglyphic River Cooter

• Experience level: Beginner
• Family: Emydidae
• Scientific Name: Pseudemys concinna hieroglyphica
• Other Names: N/A
• Average Adult Size: 5 – 13 inches
• Life Span: 15 – 20 years
• Average Price Range: $120 to $180
• Conservation Status: Endangered

The Hieroglyphic River Cooter is so named for the thick lined patterns on the carapace scutes. The patterns vaguely resemble hieroglyphics. Juveniles have a singular ridge along the top of their shell that disappears as they age.

The plastron is yellow, cream, or off white with some darker colorations. Their skin is dark green to black with bright yellow stripes. This turtle is truly a unique and beautiful specimen.

This species is a mostly aquatic turtle that rarely leaves the water. They live in rivers, tidal marshes, lakes, and other slow moving waters. The Hieroglyphic River Cooters will occasionally bask, but other than that, they don’t leave the water often.

Juveniles of this species eat more meat such as fish and insects, while adults turn to a mostly herbivorous diet. 

Musk Turtles in Georgia

20. Loggerhead Musk Turtle

• Experience level: Beginner
• Family: Kinosternidae
• Scientific Name: Sternotherus minor
• Common Name: Stripe head, Loggerhead turtle
• Average Adult Size: 2 – 4 inches
• Life Span: 20 – 40 years
• Average Price Range: $50 – $200
• Conservation Status: Least Concern

You can find Loggerhead Musk Turtles in many freshwater habitats such as ponds, lakes, creeks, and streams with soft bottoms. They tend to search for areas with plenty of vegetation and low-lying tree branches.

You won’t see the Loggerhead Musk turtle basking very often, but you may find this little turtle hanging around in tree branches overhanging the water. 

The Loggerhead Musk turtle has a domed carapace that is brown or dark olive green. They often have a vertebral keel that smooths out with age. The plastron is yellow or pinkish colored.

The head and skin of the Loggerhead Musk turtle are grey or brown. The muscular head may have yellow stripes or round spots. These turtles have a rounded, protruding snout, and fleshy barbels on the chin.

Like all musk turtles, the Loggerhead has glands that can secrete a pungent smell to deter predators.

These turtles are able to stay submerged for up to 60 hours in highly oxygenated water because they can breathe through their skin.

Loggerhead Musk turtles are night hunters that are mainly carnivorous. Their thick jaw muscles allow them to crunch through freshwater clams, thick snails, and crustaceans. They will also eat insects, fish, tadpoles, and anything else that’s small and mobile.

21. Stripe-Necked Musk Turtle 

• Experience level: Beginner
• Family: Kinosternidae
• Scientific Name: Sternotherus minor peltifer
• Other Names: Loggerhead Musk turtle, Stinkpot
• Average Adult Size: 3 – 5 inches
• Life Span: 30 to 50 years
• Average Price Range: $400 – $500
• Conservation Status: Threatened

Stripe-Necked Musk Turtles have overlapping vertebral scutes and a slight ridge. They also have prominent side ridges on their carapace.

Wide, dark stripes run along the head and neck, and can sometimes continue along their limbs. Though often on the legs there are spots and broken stripes.

Their shell color ranges from olive to dark brown with a light yellow or cream colored plastron. The bottom scutes have dark brown spots.

These musk turtles prefer swift moving, clear waters such as mountain streams, and sometimes inhabit deeper murkier rivers. They prefer rocky bottoms that hide plenty of food.

Stripe-necked musk turtles mostly feed on aquatic prey such as water beetles, stoneflies, crayfish, mollusks, and clams. They may also scavenge for dead fish and eat algae.

These turtles are especially susceptible to pollution in rivers and waterways. Not only does the pollution in the water harm their health, but they inadvertently get more pollution from the mollusks they eat.

In the 1970s there was a heavy ash spill along the Clinch River that wiped them out of that area. Not much is known about these turtles, especially mating because they are difficult to find and they are so elusive.

While many musk turtles are not suffering from low populations, the Stripe Necked Musk turtle is listed as threatened in most of their native territories.

22. Eastern Musk Turtle

• Experience Level: Intermediate
• Family: Kinosternidae
• Scientific Name: Sternotherus odoratus
• Other Names: Common Musk turtle, Stinkpot
• Adult Size: 4 to 5 inches (10 to 12.5 cm)
• Lifespan: 30 to 50 years
• Average Price Range: $30 to $120
• Conservation Status: Least concern

The Eastern Musk Turtle is also called the Common Musk Turtle or Stinkpot Turtle. These turtles are widespread and adaptable to a variety of habitats. They prefer shallow bodies of water with low to no current.

Vegetation is essential for these turtles as well as soft, muddy, organic bottoms. These turtles aren’t the best swimmers and use the vegetation to get around and reach the surface. 

They are rarely found basking, but they will exit the water and climb trees. It may sound like fiction, but these turtles are accomplished climbers and will often rest fairly high in trees.

Eastern Musk turtles are mostly nocturnal, preferring to hide, burrow, or rest during the day.

They have a smooth and oval carapace, which is either brown or black with little to no markings. The plastron is small, and the scutes have fleshy skin between the plates. They have dark-olive to black skin with two pairs of yellow or white lines stretching from the snout to the neck.

There are fleshy barbels under their chin and the underside of their elongated necks. The neck barbels are absent on most other musk turtle species. 

After mating, the females will dig nests near the water’s edge under leaf litter or near fallen logs. Often, several females will get together to dig communal nests and lay their eggs together. Females can lay from 1 to 9 eggs that hatch in 2 to 3 months. 

The Stinkpot turtle is omnivorous but they prefer mollusks, crustaceans, carrion, fish, and insects. 

Box Turtles in Georgia

23. Eastern Box Turtle

• Experience Level: Beginner
• Family: Emydidae
• Scientific Name: Terrapene carolina carolina
• Other Names: Land Turtle
• Adult Size: 4 to 7 inches
• Lifespan: 50 to 100 years
• Average Price Range: $260 – $360
• Conservation Status: Endangered.

The Eastern Box Turtle is listed as vulnerable due to the degradation of its habitat and the decline of the mature population. They are also taken from the wild to be sold as pets. Box turtles in particular do not fare well after being taken from the wild.

They stress out easily, will sometimes refuse to eat, and eventually perish. If you are looking for these pretty little turtles as a pet, please don’t take them from the wild. Search out reputable breeders with captive populations that are used to being cared for by humans.

These turtles have dual hinges on their plastron that allows them to pull their extremities completely into their shell. 

The carapace is dark green to black with yellow or orange markings on each scute. Their plastron is lighter colored, yellow, cream, or orange.

Their skin is similar in color to their carapace, and the yellow or orange markings are found along their head and limbs.

The Eastern Box turtle is a terrestrial turtle that prefers damp forest lands with plenty of damp moss, grass, and leaf litter. They stay mostly out of the water, though they can swim fairly well. They only enter the water to drink or to cool off occasionally.

Box turtles are omnivores that will eat nearly anything. They feed on carrion, fungi, grasses, flowers, fruits, seeds, insects, worms, spiders, caterpillars, and more.

24. Florida Box Turtle

• Experience level: Beginner
• Family: Emydidae
• Scientific Name: Terrapene carolina bauri
• Other Names: Box turtle
• Average Adult Size: 4 – 6 inches
• Life Span: 40 – 60 years
• Average Price Range: $300 to $400
• Conservation Status: Vulnerable

The Florida Box Turtle is similar to the Eastern Box turtle, but the markings on the highly domed shell look more like starburst patterns. This striking pattern makes these turtles very popular pets. They also have a hinged plastron that allows them to pull completely into their shell. 

Unlike most other turtles, in this species, the males are often much larger than the females. Though female Florida Box turtle shells are often higher to allow extra space to accommodate eggs inside their body. 

In the wild, box turtles can live for nearly or beyond 100 years. In captivity though, they tend to only last about 30 to 40 years.  

Like other box turtles, Florida Box Turtles are more active during cool mornings and afternoons. They also emerge from their burrows after the rain.

During the most intense heat of the day, Florida Box turtles will hide under damp leaves, under or inside logs, or in other animal burrows. They can also be found in shallow pools or puddles attempting to cool themselves off. 

While they don’t truly hibernate through the winter, they will enter a slow down period called brumation. They burrow into the ground and enter a state of reduced activity. On warmer days the Florida Box turtle will emerge and bask in the sun as well as search for food. 

When it gets cold again they crawl back into their burrows.

Like other box turtles, the Florida Box turtle is omnivorous. They mostly eat insects, caterpillars, snails, worms, grasses and vegetation, as well as decaying animals.

Pond Sliders

25. Yellow Belly Slider

• Experience level: Beginner
• Family: Emydidae
• Scientific Name: Trachemys scripta scripta
• Other Names: Pond slider, Yellow slider
• Average Adult Size: 5 – 13 inches
• Life Span: 50 to 100 years
• Average Price Range: approximately $30 to $130
• Conservation Status: Least concern

Yellow-Bellied Sliders are widely abundant and can be found across Georgia waterways. They like to live in rivers, oxbows, lakes, ponds, and swamps.

Though mostly aquatic, Yellow Belly Sliders will leave the water to find proper hibernation spots, nesting sites, or to find better waterways. You may also see them basking in the spring or fall. During the summer months, they tend to stay in the water.

Yellow Belly Sliders are vibrant looking turtles. Aside from the tell-tale yellow plastron, they have green carapaces with bright markings. Their skin is dark green to black with prominent yellow stripes and a large blotch behind the eyes.

Females grow larger than males in this species and often reach 10 to 12 inches. Males grow to 5 to 8 inches in length. 

Juvenile sliders feed mostly on aquatic insects, tadpoles, dead fish, or other meat. Adults are much more omnivorous. They eat more vegetation such as algae, fruits, seeds, and algae, though they will sometimes eat meat. 

Larger turtles can eat small fish, frogs, tadpoles, insects, and amphibians. 

26. Red Eared Slider

• Experience level: Beginner
• Family: Emydidae
• Scientific Name: Trachemys scripta elegans
• Common Name: Pond slider, Red-eared terrapin, Water slider
• Average Adult Size: 6 – 8 inches
• Life Span: 20 to 40 years
• Average Price Range: approximately $30 to $100
• Conservation Status: Least concern

The Red-Eared Slider is a prominent turtle that has become invasive in many other states and even across other countries and continents. Native to warm southern waters, the Red Eared Slider is now being found in Oceania, Europe, South Africa, and Southeast Asia.

These turtles prefer slow moving, clear waters with soft, muddy bottoms, but as others will tell you, they can inhabit most types of freshwater. They are found in so many non-native areas because they are easy to purchase and inexpensive.

Owners sometimes realize that taking care of an aquatic turtle is not an easy job. Not to mention that these turtles can live for numerous decades. People unwittingly release them into the wild where they often out compete native species of turtles and become invasive species.

If you ever have a pet turtle—or any pet for that matter—that you are no longer able to care for, please try to find a rescue agency to care for it and find another proper home. Releasing captive bred animals into the wild can harm native species. 

They can spread illnesses that native species are not immune to, and they can cause harm to the pet that was released. While some thrive, others could starve because they are used to having food brought to them.

Red Eared Sliders have green carapaces with bright swirls and markings. Their plastron is light yellow with black markings. Their skin starts out green with yellow or white stripes, but their distinguishing marks are the red blotches behind their eyes.

Over time, these turtles darken in color and the bright markings begin to fade.

Red Eared Sliders are excellent swimmers that spend most of their time in the water or basking on logs, rocks, or sandy banks.

These turtles are omnivores that eat varying types of plant and animal matter. They especially love small fish, but they will eat crustaceans, mollusks, algae, plant matter, insects, and anything else small enough to swallow.

Tortoises in Georgia

27. Gopher Tortoise

• Experience level: Intermediate
• Family:  Testudinidae
• Scientific Name: Gopherus Polyphemus
• Other Names: Gopher turtle, Florida Gopher tortoise
• Average Adult Size: 9 – 15 inches
• Life Span: 40 – 60 years
• Average Price Range: Illegal to sell, but may be adopted with special permits
• Conservation Status: Threatened

Gopher Tortoises are land dwelling turtles exclusive to the southeastern US. The majority of them are in Florida, but you can find small congregations in Georgia. This species is the official state reptile of Georgia.

The Gopher Tortoise is a threatened species, but they are also recognized as a keystone species. They dig deep, long burrows that are utilized by over 300 different species of animals. They are also essential in seed dispersal. 

As they eat fruits and seeds, when they defecate they help to spread natural vegetation across the landscape. Because of these distinctions, it is illegal to take, own, sell, or mess with Gopher Tortoises without special permits.

You may find these large tortoises along Georgia’s coastal plains regions, across scrublands and grasslands. They are completely terrestrial and can not swim.

Gopher tortoises have thick, wide front legs and claws made for digging. They also have rough ridges of scales on their forelimbs that help aid in digging their burrows. These burrows can reach up to 6 feet deep.

They hide in these burrows to cool off during hot summer days, and to brumate when the winter sets in.

Gopher tortoises have thick, highly domed shells that are brown, grey, or tan. Their plastron is a dull yellow or light brown. They have a broad, rounded head, long necks, and stout limbs.

The reasons for their decline are habitat loss, slow reproduction, long lives, and road fatalities. As their habitats are developed these turtles have fewer chances of coming across more of their species. While a single tortoise can live over 60 years, they don’t reach sexual maturity until 12 to 14 years of age.

Then once they hit this age, they only breed once a year, if they come across a suitable mate. These slow moving tortoises meet their doom on the roadways as well, especially females looking for proper nesting sites.

When you see turtles on the road you can help them cross if you can do so safely. Just be sure to help them in the direction they were headed. Otherwise, they will end up trying to cross again.

Gopher tortoises are strict vegetarians. They eat fruits, grasses, leaves, flowers, and seeds.

Sea Turtles in Georgia

28. Loggerhead Sea Turtle

• Experience Level: N/A, Illegal to own any sea turtle
• Family: Cheloniidae
• Scientific Name: Caretta Caretta
• Other Names: Loggerhead
• Adult Size: 2.5 – 3.5 feet
• Lifespan: 70 – 80 years
• Average Price Range: N/A
• Conservation Status: Endangered

Loggerhead Sea turtles are the largest hard-shelled sea turtle species. Once these giants reached 6 to 7 feet long and could weigh as much as 1,000 pounds. 

Now though, these turtles rarely reach these sizes and are often 3 to 4 feet in length. They can still weigh as much as 440 pounds.

Among the 5 sea turtles found in Georgia’s coastal waters, the Loggerhead is the only species that regularly nests on sandy beaches. The Leatherback Turtle rarely nests on Georgia shores and certainly doesn’t do so regularly.

Loggerhead Sea turtle nesting grounds can be found on Tybee, Jekyll, St. Simmons, Sapelo, and Ossabaw islands.

In 2021 there were nearly 2,500 nests and nearly 250,000 eggs laid on Georgia beaches. Even with these massive numbers, the Atlantic Loggerhead turtle is still an endangered species.

Like all other sea turtle species, the Loggerhead spends most of its life in the ocean. They only return to shore to nest. 

Using geolocation, sea turtles are able to find the same beach they were born on and return there to lay their eggs every 2 to 3 years after they reach sexual maturity.

Loggerhead Sea turtles have large, muscular heads. They use their massive jaw muscles to eat some very hard shelled creatures such as conch, whelk, and horseshoe crabs.

Juveniles feed on crabs, and vegetation until they have jaws strong enough to crack open the tougher shells.

29. Hawksbill Sea Turtle

• Experience level: N/A, Illegal to own any sea turtle
• Family: Cheloniidae
• Scientific Name: Eretmochelys imbricata
• Other Names: Hawksbill
• Average Adult Size: 30 – 36 inches
• Life Span: 50 – 60 years
• Average Price Range: N/A
• Conservation Status: Critically endangered

Obviously, the Hawksbill Sea turtle gets its name because of the sharp, narrow, pointed beak it has. They use this sharp beak to cut through and eat sea sponges, their main source of food.

These turtles are critically endangered because they get hit by boats and often don’t survive such encounters. They are also hunted illegally for their marbled, gorgeous shells.

These shells are used to make guitar picks, hair accessories, jewelry, and other items. The meat, though relatively poisonous because of the sponges they eat, still does not deter people from hunting them.

Though they spend most of their time in coral reefs and shallow tropical waters around the world, they can be spotted off Georgia’s coast on occasion.

30. Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

• Experience level: N/A, Illegal to own any sea turtle
• Family: Cheloniidae
• Scientific Name:  Lepidochelys kempii
• Other Names: Atlantic Ridley, Tortuga Lora (Mexico)
• Average Adult Size: 24 – 27 inches
• Life Span: 30 years
• Average Price Range: N/A
• Conservation Status: Critically endangered

The Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle is named after its discoverer, Richard Kemp. Though for some time they were thought to be the same species as the Olive Ridley Sea turtle. 

Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles are the smallest and most critically endangered sea turtles. It’s estimated that only 8,000 to 9,000 nesting females exist in the world. 

These sea turtles are the only sea turtles that nest routinely in the daytime. Along with the Olive Ridley sea turtle, they nest in mass, synchronized groups in a process called arribada. This helps to protect them and the babies from predators.

All the turtle hatchlings emerge at nearly the same time, allowing for more to escape mass predation by crabs, birds, fish, and other animals.

Their hatchlings have dark colors but adults turn grayish-green color with pale yellow bottom shells.

31. Green Sea Turtle

• Experience level: N/A, Illegal to own any sea turtle
• Family: Cheloniidae
• Scientific Name: Chelonia mydas
• Other Names: Green Sea Turtle
• Average Adult Size: 3 – 4 feet
• Life Span: 50 – 70 years
• Average Price Range: N/A
• Conservation Status: Endangered

The Green Sea turtle doesn’t get its name because it’s green—it’s actually several shades of brown, green, black, and white. The green comes from underneath. Their fat and other tissues are green because of their diet.

Green Sea turtles graze on sea grasses and algae almost exclusively as adults. This diet turns their fat green. While they used to be harvested for their meat, they are now protected from such hunting, though it doesn’t stop everyone.

Though found in temperate waters around the world, the Green Sea turtle is rarely found in the open ocean. They prefer to stay in shallow waters along the coast and in protected waters where they can easily feed.

People hunt these turtles for their meat. Others use these turtles for leather.

32. Atlantic Leatherback Sea Turtle

• Experience level: N/A, Illegal to own any sea turtle
• Family: Dermochelyidae
• Scientific Name: Dermochelys coriacea
• Other Names: Atlantic Leatherback, Leatherback
• Average Adult Size: 4 – 8 ft
• Life Span: 30 – 50 years
• Average Price Range: N/A
• Conservation Status:  Endangered

The largest and most active sea turtle is the Atlantic Leatherback Sea turtle. It can travel farther and deeper than any other sea turtle. It is a strong swimmer that can stay underwater for 85 minutes and dive as deep as 4000 feet before coming up for air.

Georgia records less than 10 nests per year. They typically nest in Florida, and areas in the Caribbean along the United States waters.

The Leatherback Sea turtle doesn’t have a hard shell. Instead, their back is covered in small, bony plates, and a leathery skin. Several ridges run the length of their backs.

These turtles feed mostly on large jellyfish. The lion’s mane jellyfish can reach up to 6 or 7 feet in width, but usually, only grow to 2 or 4 feet. These are the Leatherback’s favorite food, though they will also eat sea cucumbers and other soft aquatic creatures.

FAQs

Conclusion

From aquatic and terrestrial species to the completely land-dwelling gopher tortoise, to sea turtles, Georgia has a wide array of turtles you may be able to see. 

Some of these animals can make great pets if you purchase them from licensed breeders. It’s never a good idea to take a wild turtle and make it your pet.

We hope this list has inspired you to learn more about turtles and tortoises. These little reptiles need our help to keep them thriving in the wild. 

While you’re here, why not leave us a comment below? We love hearing from our readers so feel free to share stories with us. See you next time! 

Other nearby states

• Turtles in Alabama
• Turtles in Florida
• Turtles in Puerto Rico
• Turtles in South Carolina
• Turtles in Tennessee