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spotted turtle
reptile
Also known as: Clemmys guttata
spotted turtle, (Clemmys guttata), small freshwater turtle (family Emydidae) found from southern Canada to the southern and central United States. The spotted turtle has a shell about 10 centimetres (4 inches) long. The upper shell is smooth, with round, bright-yellow or orange spots on a brown background; the lower shell is blackish, with orange or yellow markings.
The spotted turtle is a rather slow-moving reptile. It lives in shallow bodies of water, such as ponds, bogs, and ditches, and it commonly basks in groups in the sun.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
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