California Species of Special Concern

Range: North of San Francisco to northwest Baja California and west of the Mojave Desert.

Habitat: Valley locations with slow-moving waterways. Upland habitat and basking sites must be easily accessible.

Size: Between 4 & 8 inches long

Southwestern pond turtles are aquatic animals with a dark brown or olive-colored carapace that lacks prominent markings. Mostly aquatic they move to upland areas for egg laying. They over winter in underground burrows in upland habitats. In the warmer months the pond turtle will bask on rocks and logs near slow-moving streams. Man has precipitated their decline due to disturbance of upland nesting habitat, overharvesting (by the now banned terrapin soup industry), by agriculture, livestock grazing, and development.

Images Alison Sheehey © Nature Ali Publications. All rights reserved.

Consult with the California Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service if you see work proceeding in known habitat of the Southwestern pond turtle.