Blanding’s Turtle

Emydoidea blandingii

Distinguishing Characteristics

• Medium-sized to large, carapace approximately 7 to 9 inches in length
• Smooth, helmet-shaped carapace (upper part of shell) is brownish-black to black with abundant cream or light tan flecks and streaks
• Conspicuous bright yellow chin and throat
• Plastron (bottom part of shell) is partially hinged; yellowish with large black blotches

Back to top

Status and Distribution in Maine

• State Endangered; Species of Greatest Conservation Need
• Rare
• Southern region only

Back to top

Habitat

• Primarily aquatic, found in vernal pools, marshes, scrub-shrub swamps, streams, and ponds
• Habitats with dense emergent vegetation and basking sites such as logs or sphagnum-covered hummocks
• Spends period of summer inactive under leaf litter in forested areas near wetlands

Back to top

Diet

• Omnivorous, diet includes plants, berries, fish, larval amphibians, insects, mollusks, slugs, and earthworms
• Makes annual trips to vernal pools to feed on breeding amphibians

Back to top

Seasonal Changes

• Hibernates at the bottom of wetlands such as ponds, shrub swamps, and vernal pools

Back to top

Natural History Notes

• Can travel great distances, with some radio-tagged turtles moving up to 1.2 miles between wetlands; for this reason, threatened by habitat fragmentation from roads
• Sometimes known as a “semi-box turtle” because of its partial plastron hinge

Back to top