Herpetofauna: One Life's List

Chrysemys picta dorsalis
Southern Painted Turtle

Wayne Co., Missouri
October 28th, 2002

Mingo Swamp in southern Missouri is a great place to view Southern Painted Turtles. On a sunny day they are out in force, basking on logs and swimming in the ditches and creeks. There's no mistaking the species either - dorsalis has this nice orange 'racing stripe' down the middle of its carapace.

The top picture is a Southern Paint from Mingo Swamp, and the bottom is a neonate rescued off the road near Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee. Note that the egg tooth is still attached on this little turtle.