Testudines - turtle order
There are five families of turtles in Maine: Chelydridae, Kinosternidae, Emydidae, Cheloniidae, and Dermochelyidae.
Maine is home to 10 species in 9 genera in 5 families. For information about a particular genus or species, scroll down or click on the appropriate link below.
Chelydridae (1 genus, 1 species)
Chelydra serpentina - snapping turtle
Kinosternidae (1 genus, 1 species)
Sternotherus odoratus - common musk turtle
Emydidae (4 genera, 5 species)
Chrysemys picta - painted turtle
Clemmys guttata - spotted turtle
Clemmys insculpta - wood turtle
Emydoidea blandingii - Blanding’s turtle
Terrapene carolina - loggerhead
Cheloniidae (2 genera, 2 species)
Caretta caretta - loggerhead
Lepidochelys kempii - Atlantic Ridley
Dermochelyidae (1 genus, 1 species)
Dermochelys coriacea - leatherback
Chelydridae
[information to be added]
| Chelydra serpentina (snapping turtle) has been reported from the towns of Bar Harbor and Mount Desert. The photograph below was taken by Don Lenahan in Bar Harbor on 21 April 2007 at the inlet at the south end of the Tarn. Almost exactly one year later, 20 April 2008, Don saw a snapping turtle “swimming at the very south end of The Tarn [in the] early afternoon”. |
| This snapping turtle in Mount Desert was standing uncomfortably (for itself as well as for passing drivers) at the edge of Route 102 facing away from Echo Lake with the apparent aim of crossing the busy road. An attempt to photograph the turtle prompted it to head back toward the lake as captured in the following photograph on 11 June 2009. |
Emydidae
[information to be added]
| Chrysemys picta (painted turtle). This painted turtle was basking at the Tarn on 17 June 2014. |
