Box and Water Turtles (Emydidae)

 

Box and Water Turtles (Emydidae)

The largest family of turtles worldwide, the Emydidae family, is represented in Maryland by thirteen species of turtle. With such diversity comes a variety of body types and habitat choices. Usually, the carapace is not highly domed, but there are a few species with high arches to their shells. Many species have a plastron that hinges, allowing for complete or partial closure. Several are almost completely aquatic while others are primarily terrestrial. The name Emydidae comes from the Greek "emys", meaning "freshwater terrapin", but some of our turtles will also use brackish water.​​

​	Bog Turtle​ (G​lyptemys muhlenbergii​)​ Threatened Photo courtesy of Stephen Badger
​	​Spotted Turtle​​ (Clemmys guttata​) Photo courtesy of Tony Prochaska
​	​Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) Photo courtesy of Linh Phu
​​	​Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapine carolina​​) Photo courtesy of Scott A. Smith
​	​Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) Introduced Photo courtesy of John White
​	​Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys p. picta​) Photo courtesy of Corey Wickliffe​
​	​Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) Photo courtesy of Linh Phu​​
​	​River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna​​) Introduced; not established in Maryland yet Photo courtesy of John White Former Name: Eastern River Cooter
​	​Northern Red-bellied Cooter (Pseudemys rubriventris​) Photo courtesy of John White
​	​Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica​​​) Endangered Photo courtesy of Jim Harding
​	Diamond-backed Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin​​) Photo courtesy of Lori Erb Former Name: Northern Diamond-backed Terrapin
​​	False Map Turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica​) Introduced Photo courtesy of by Peter Paplanus CC by 2.0
​	Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) Introduced Photo courtesy of John White