Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) COSEWIC Status-Special Concern OMNR-Vulnerable	Description: A small "polka dot" turtle up to 13 cm in size. The carapace is low, smooth-margined, and dark coloured, with one to several yellow spots per scute. The unhinged plastron has dark blotches on a light background that darkens with age. Both the head and legs have spots. The legs are dark above and yellow to orange below. Occasionally individuals without any spots on the shells may be found but they still have spots on the head. The males usually have a tan or black chin, brown eyes, and a slightly concave plastron. Most females have a yellow chin, orange or yellow eyes, and a flat plastron. The hatchlings are nearly round, 2.5 cm in size and generally have one spot on each scute.
Habits: Hibernate in shallow water from mid-October to late March. They are known to hibernate communally. Spotted turtles are omnivorous, feeding on carrion, invertebrates, tadpoles, and plant material such as algae. They often travel on land in the spring, seeking nesting spots or a mate. During hot weather, they may bury themselves in a cool spot and remain dormant. Spotted turtles mate in the spring and possibly in the fall. An average of 5 eggs are laid in mid-June. Well drained but moist sandy or loam soils exposed to sunlight are thier preferred nest sites. The eggs take an average of 70 days to incubate. Young spotted turtles grow rapidly in their first year. They reach maturity between 7-10 years of age and breed every other year. Spotted turtles may live to about 30 in the wild.
	With permission of the Royal Ontario Museum © ROM Note: These maps show the approximate range of these species.
	Habitat: Wetlands (ponds, bogs and marshes) with soft muddy bottoms and some vegetation. They prefer still water and are intolerant of pollution.

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