Smallest Types of Water Turtles
Turtles are among natures most curious creatures. They come in all shapes, sizes, and can live in just about any habitat. While it is very common for some turtles to grow very large, some turtles remain quite small. The smallest known turtle grows to just under 2 inches in length.
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Southern Painted Turtle
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Southern painted turtles are the smallest painted turtles in North America, averaging an approximate length of 4 to 5 inches long. This turtle is known as the painted turtle because of the orange striping, along the center of the upper shell, the outer edge of the lower shell, and the stripes running along each side of its head. This turtle prefers shallow streams, swamps and lakes. This turtle's diet consists mostly of freshwater invertebrates like snails, crayfish, and insects, though like most turtles, he will eat plant material as well. Though the southern painted turtle is currently only recognized as an adapted subspecies of the western painted turtle, it may soon be recognized as its own species, owing to its prolific breeding practices.
Bog Turtle
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Bog turtles are another type of tiny turtle, this one native to North America. The bog or Muhlenberg turtle will only grow to about 4 inches long. They are easily identifiable by the large yellow, orange or red blotch on the side of their necks. These turtles, like most others, will hibernate during the winter, and are thought to hibernate during the hottest parts of the summer. Bog turtles spend most of their time in shallow, spring-fed bogs, marshy meadows and other habitats with soft, muddy bottoms. This is an endangered species.
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Mississippi Mud Turtle
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Mississippi mud turtles live in the swamps of Missouri and reach an average length of 3 to 4 ¾ in length. There are usually two irregular yellow stripes along each side of the otherwise dark brown or black head. Like bog turtles, the Mississippi mud turtle enjoy low lying wetland areas: bogs, swamps, muddy pastures, etc. It eats a wide variety of aquatic animals and plants.
Stinkpot Turtle
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One of the world's smallest turtles is the Stinkpot turtle. Averaging between 2 to 4 inches, this tiny turtle packs a punch when captured. The Stinkpot turtle gives off an incredibly powerful odor when captured as a defense mechanism. This turtle, like so many others, likes water. It can be found in the Ozark River and lake regions of Missouri.
Red-Eared Slider
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This is one of the most common types of semi aquatic turtles found anywhere. Though slightly larger than the others, coming in at around 5 to 8 inches in length, the red-eared slider is one of the more beautiful turtles, patterned with yellow and black lines on an olive green shell.
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