“My Top Ten Turtle Species that live in Texas”
By Charlie Masterson
Razor-Backed Musk Turtle
Adult Length: 4-6 inches
Herbivore, Carnivore, or Omnivore? Carnivore
Where in Texas? Eastern Texas
Distinctive features: Tall bridge on top of shell that looks like a “razor”
Fun Fact: Musk Turtles prefer walking on the bottom of the body of water unlike other turtles who prefer swimming
2. Cagle’s Map Turtle
Adult Length: 4 inches (male) 7 inches (female)
Herbivore, Carnivore, or Omnivore? Omnivore
Where in Texas? Southeastern Texas
Distinctive features: Intricate patterns on carapace (shell)
Fun Fact: Map turtles prefer basking in the sun in groups
3. Big Bend Slider Turtle
Adult length: 5-11 inches
Herbivore, Carnivore, or Omnivore? Omnivore
Where in Texas? Rio Grande
Distinctive features: Orange lines under eyes
Fun Fact: These turtles spend most of their time basking in groups, and will dive into the water when approached
4. Eastern mud turtle
Adult length: 2-4 inches
Herbivore, Carnivore, or Omnivore? Omnivore
Where in Texas? Southern Texas
Distinctive Features: Intricate pattern underneath lower shell
Fun Fact: These turtles are one of the smallest kinds of turtle in the United States!
5. Midland Smooth Softshell Turtle
Adult length: 5-15 inches
Herbivore, Carnivore, or Omnivore? Carnivorous (mostly)
Where in Texas? Everywhere
Distinctive features: Like their name suggests, their shell is squishy rather than hard like most turtles
Fun Fact: You’ve probably never seen these turtles in Texas, and that’s because they spend most of their time underwater!
6. Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Adult Length: 28-35 inches
Herbivore, Carnivore, or Omnivore? Omnivore
Where in Texas? Gulf of Mexico Area
Distinctive features: These turtles are named after their pointed beak, which resembles a hawks.
Fun Fact: We know very little about the young of these turtle’s activity
7. Rough-Footed Mud Turtle
Adult Length: 7 inches
Herbivore, Carnivore, or Omnivore? Herbivore
Where in Texas? West Texas
Distinctive features: Patterns on head, gray eyes
Fun Fact: These turtles can live in almost any environment as long as there is at least 3 inches of water!
8. Painted Turtle
Adult length: 8-9 inches
Herbivore, Carnivore, or Omnivore? Omnivore
Where in Texas? West Texas
Distinctive Features: Painted turtles have varying patterns and bright
colors on their skin.
Fun Fact: Painted turtles are one of the most common turtles that are kept as pets
9. Texas Diamond-backed Terrapin
Adult Length: 5-7 inches
Herbivore, Carnivore, or Omnivore? Omnivore
Where in Texas? Everywhere but especially western and southern Texas
Distinctive Features: Light gray skin
Fun Fact: This turtle has one of the longest range of any turtle, without being invasive
10. Common Snapping Turtle
Adult Length: 10-19 inches
Herbivore, Carnivore, or Omnivore? Omnivore, but are still active hunters
Where in Texas? Everywhere
Distinctive Features: Longer spiny tail, small shell
Fun Fact: Snapping turtles do not bask like other turtles
