Reptiles and Amphibians
Media
![Image of a blanding's turtle](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2010/05/blandings_turtle.jpg?itok=Ss-6choO)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Emydoidea blandingii
Description
Blanding’s turtle has an oval, moderately high-domed upper shell and a long head and neck. This turtle is endangered in Missouri and occurs only in the extreme northern corners of the state.
Media
![Eastern musk turtle (stinkpot)](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2011/10/eastern_musk_turtle_10-28-11.jpg?itok=1XtDeqFd)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Sternotherus odoratus
Description
The eastern musk turtle is one of the world’s smallest turtles. It has a dark, domed upper shell and reduced lower shell. It occurs along our Mississippi River counties and in the southern two-thirds of the state.
Media
![Image of an eastern river cooter (turtle)](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2010/05/river_cooter.jpg?itok=ljix4A1j)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Pseudemys concinna concinna
Description
The eastern river cooter is a broad-shelled aquatic turtle with a seemingly small head. It is most abundant in the rivers and sloughs of southern Missouri but also occurs in some of our large reservoirs.
Media
![Eastern Spiny Softshell](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2010/06/eastern_spiny_softshell.jpg?itok=aLiFbrC4)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Apalone spinifera spinifera
Description
The eastern spiny softshell is a medium to large softshell turtle with small bumps or spines on the front edge of the upper shell. There are dark spots on the fore- and hind limbs.
Media
![midland smooth softshell](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2010/06/midland_smooth_softshell.jpg?itok=C3YOP3Rl)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Apalone mutica mutica
Description
The midland smooth softshell is a rather plain-looking softshell turtle, with a smooth, rather featureless olive-gray or brown shell, and a light stripe bordered by black extending backward from each eye.
Media
![Three-toed box turtle](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2011/10/three_toed_box_turtle_10-28-11.jpg?itok=XugXBOXu)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Terrapene carolina triunguis
Description
The three-toed box turtle usually has three hind toes. Its high-domed shell usually has a top ridge and is olive or brown with faint yellow or orange lines. Look for it in woodland habitats.
Media
![Image of a northern map turtle](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2010/05/common_map_turtle.jpg?itok=XfZZY6YZ)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Graptemys geographica
Description
The northern map turtle is a medium-sized aquatic species with a low ridge along the center of the upper shell. A small yellow spot is present behind each eye. It occurs mainly in the Ozarks and the upper Mississippi River in northeastern Missouri.
Media
Species Types
Scientific Name
Graptemys ouachitensis
Description
The Ouachita map turtle is a medium-sized aquatic species with a prominent ridge down the center of the upper shell and bright yellow lines on the head and limbs. A large yellow marking behind each eye extends, narrowing, on top of the head. It occurs in southern and eastern Missouri.
Media
![Image of a false map turtle](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2010/05/false_map_turtle.jpg?itok=bJjC14ac)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Graptemys pseudogeographica pseudogeographica
Description
Missouri has two subspecies of false map turtle. The northern false map turtle occurs in the Missouri River in central and northwestern Missouri and the upper Mississippi River. The Mississippi map turtle occurs in the lower Mississippi River, southern Ozark rivers, and southwestern Missouri.
Media
![Western chicken turtle](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/2023-06/chickenturtle_jeffbriggler_forfieldguideonly.jpg?itok=ivfOjRft)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Deirochelys reticularia miaria
Description
The western chicken turtle is a small to medium-sized turtle with an oval shell and extremely long neck. It is endangered in Missouri, occurring only in the Mississippi Lowlands in the extreme southeastern part of the state.
See Also
About Reptiles and Amphibians in Missouri
Missouri’s herptiles comprise 43 amphibians and 75 reptiles. Amphibians, including salamanders, toads, and frogs, are vertebrate animals that spend at least part of their life cycle in water. They usually have moist skin, lack scales or claws, and are ectothermal (cold-blooded), so they do not produce their own body heat the way birds and mammals do. Reptiles, including turtles, lizards, and snakes, are also vertebrates, and most are ectothermal, but unlike amphibians, reptiles have dry skin with scales, the ones with legs have claws, and they do not have to live part of their lives in water.