Wood Turtle (Clemmys insculpta)

The wood turtle is one of a few reptiles which is not noted for its appearance, but rather, its intelligence. Among turtles, they show an environmental awareness that is well beyond most other species. Tinklepaugh (1932) reported that wood turtles tested in a maze exhibited the learn-ng ability of a rat. Wood turtles in captivity will also learn pertinent parts of the human daily routine; a wood turtle held captive by one researcher learned its way around the house and associated the kitchen with food and the bathroom with swimming (Harding and Bloomer 1979).The wood turtle's apparent intellect has boosted its popularity in the pet industry, but, like most other turtles, it does not have a life history conducive to commercial or recreational harvesting. Over the past several decades, harvesting for the pet trade has decimated many populations and has prompted concerns regarding the status of the species. Concern for the wood turtle prompted the Maine State Legislature to enact new laws in 1992 prohibiting the commercial collection of all turtles and snakes (except snapping turtles).

Description: As one might expect from the scientific name C. insculpta, the wood turtle has a highly sculpted carapace which is brown to grayish brown in color, distinguishing it from any other turtle species in the region. Although the snapping turtle may seem to have a sculpted carapace in some instances, its larger size and dorsally saw-toothed tail differentiate it from the wood turtle's smaller size and smooth tail. Upper parts of the limbs and the head of the wood turtle are brownish-gray, while coloration on the lower sections of the forelimbs and neck varies among populations from yellow in the western part of its range to orange in the eastern U.S. and Canada. In Maine, the wood turtle is sometimes referred to as "old red legs." Eye color of the wood turtle also exhibits a high degree of variation among individuals, and may range from a dull yellow to a brilliant yellow-green. The plastron is yellowish in color, with dark intrusions along the external edge of each scute. Plastral scutes may have easily distinguished concentric rings, or annuli, which can be used for aging, although often worn smooth in older individuals.

Wood turtles are medium-sized turtles, with carapace lengths ranging between 14 and 26 cm (5.5-10.2"), and carapace widths ranging from 10 to 22 cm (3.9-8.7"). Adult wood turtles may weigh between 0.4 and 1.5 kg (0.9-3.3 lbs). Males are generally larger than females and exhibit marked plastral concavity. A cloaca located beyond the rear margin of the carapace and prominent scales on the forelimbs are also distinguishing characteristics of males. Females are smaller and have a flat plastron.T heir cloaca is located inside the rear margin of the carapace. Young wood turtles, which are rarely seen, have a flat, brown carapace which is not sculpted. The carapace is as wide as it is long, and the tail is as long as the carapace. The plastron and limbs have a dark gray-brown coloration. As individuals mature, the tail shortens, and the plastron and ventral sections of the limbs become yellow or tan.

Distribution and Status: Wood turtles occur in the Midwest, the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada, inhabiting areas from Minnesota to southern Nova Scotia and from northern Iowa to north-ern Virginia. Recent evidence indicates that wood turtle populations may be quite localized within this range, with large gaps occurring among populations (Litzgus and Brooks 1996). Persecution from pet collectors and other human activities have greatly reduced populations in many areas, leading to fragmented populations. Within the state of Maine, wood turtles have been observed in all of the major river drainages. All but one of the other states and provinces in the species' range list the wood turtle as Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife lists the wood turtle as a Species of Special Concern.

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