ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Wood Turtle

 Wood Turtle

wood turtle

This is a rare turtle, known from only a couple of specimens in northeast Ohio, where it is on the edge of its range. The wood turtle is not considered to be a native Ohio species.
 

Wood Turtle
Clemmys insculpta

At-a-Glance

• Peak Breeding Activity: May-June

• Eggs hatch : September-October

• Clutch Size: 6-8 eggs

• Typical Foods: woody plants, fruits, fungi, slugs, snails, worms, and insects
Description
Wood turtles are reddish orange on the neck and limbs, and are sometimes referred to as red-legged turtles. The shell is formed by concentric growth ridges and each scute (external horny plate) looks like an irregular pyramid.

Habitat and Habits
Although they prefer swampy-marshy woodland areas with cool streams, next to the box turtle they are our most terrestrial turtle. A good climber for a turtle, it has been known to scale a six-foot chain link fence.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
The reproductive biology of turtles is fascinating. With the exception of softshell turtles, the sex of all species of Ohio turtles is dependent on the temperature at which the eggs develop. For instance, snapping turtle eggs that develop at about 77oF will all hatch out as males, while eggs that develop at much higher or lower temperatures will all hatch out as females. In the wild, warmer eggs at the top of a nest may all hatch out as females, while cooler eggs at the bottom hatch out as males.