Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Snakes & Turtles

of Kemptville District

IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

© Karma Williams

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Table of Contents

TURTLES

Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)………………..

Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus)…………..

Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata)...

Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica)…………

Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)………….

Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentinea)…………………

Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera)………………………..

Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)………………………….

SNAKES

DeKay’s Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi)………………….

Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)…..

Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus)………….

Grey Rat Snake (Pantherophis spiloides)………………...

Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum)……………………

Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon)……..

Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata)…………..

Rind-necked Snake (Diadophis punctuatus edwardsi)..

Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis)……………..

GLOSSARY

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Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Blanding’s Turtle

Emydoidea blandingii

OMNR Threatened

SARA Threatened

COSEWIC Threatened

© Zach Kilgore

Protruding

eyes

© Brian A. Day

Size: 12.5 - 18 cm

Habitat: Semi-aquatic;

hibernates under or

near water, in mud or

under vegetation or

debris

Threats: Habitat

fragmentation and

destruction; nest

predation

Note: Yellow chin and

throat fades post-mortem

High domed

carapace

Yellow

plastron with

dark blotches

Flexible

grooved

hinge to

protect head

and legs

Black to greyish-brown

carapace with

yellowish spots or streaks

Bright yellow

chin and

throat

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Eastern Musk Turtle

Sternotherus odoratus

OMNR Threatened

SARA Threatened

COSEWIC Threatened

© John White

© John White

Size: 5 - 11.5 cm

Habitat: Almost

entirely aquatic.

Majority of time spent

in shallow, heavily

vegetated waters of

slow moving creeks, or

in ponds

Threats: Pet trade;

habitat degradation

Small, yellow-

brown

plastron

Smooth, light

olive to black,

high domed

carapace

Hinged to

protect the

head

Two light

stripes on each

side of the head

Barbels (fleshy

projections)

on chin and

throat

Releases a

musky odour

when handled

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Midland Painted Turtle

Chrysemys picta marginata

© Blake Matheson

OMNR -

SARA -

COSEWIC -

Size: 11.5 - 14 cm

Habitat: Favour quiet,

shallow waters that

contain lots of dense

vegetation.

Behaviour: Can often

be found basking in the

sun in groups.

Hibernates during winter

by burying itself in mud

in the bottom of a body

of water or shore bank.

Orange-red

margins on

carapace

Yellow plastron

with central

blotch or

shadow,

variable in

darkness

Smooth, olive

to brownish-

grey

carapace

Neck, legs and

tail striped

with red and

yellow

© Douglas Mills

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Northern Map Turtle

Graptemys geographica

© Michael

OMNR Special Concern

SARA Special Concern

COSEWIC Special Concern

© Vandermeulen

Male Size: 9 - 16 cm;

Female Size: 18-28 cm

Habitat: Lives in large

lakes and rivers; often

congregates to bask

and hibernate

Threats: Human

disturbance; habitat

destruction; decline in

preferred prey species

with incline of zebra

mussels

Rear margin of

carapace

serrated

Olive green to

brownish

carapace

Yellow

plastron

Numerous fine

yellow lines on

carapace,

resembling

contour lines

on a map

Slightly raised

keel down centre

of shell

Yellow spot

behind each

eye

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Red-eared Slider

Trachemys scripta elegans

OMNR -

SARA -

COSEWIC -

© Massimo Lazzari

© Michal Maňas

Size: 20 - 33 cm

Habitat: Semi-aquatic

Behaviour: Named so

due to their ability to

quickly slide off rocks

and logs into water

*** Non-native species

to Ontario. Often sold

in pet stores. Do NOT

release into wild.

Red spot

behind each

eye

Dark olive-green

carapace with light

variable markings

Green head,

limbs and tail

with yellow

lines

Plastron

yellow with

dark

irregular

spots on

most scutes

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Snapping Turtle

Chelydra serpentinea

Size: 20 - 36 cm

Habitat: Prefer

shallow, muddy waters;

nest in sand or gravel

Threats: Road

mortality; nest

predation; do not live

long enough to

reproduce (sexually

mature at 15 - 20

years)

OMNR Special Concern

SARA No Status

COSEWIC Special Concern

© Dave Govoni

Long tail

with

dinosaur-like

scales

Young turtles three

longitudinal keels;

old turtles almost

smooth

Brown head,

tail and

limbs

Carapace light

brown to black

Yellowish,

cross-shaped

plastron

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Spiny Softshell

Apalone spinifera

© LA Dawson

OMNR Threatened

SARA Threatened

COSEWIC Threatened

Male Size: 12.5 - 23.5

cm; Female Size: 18 -

43 cm

Habitat: Freshwater

turtle; often buries

itself in mud at the

bottom of a water body

Threats: Habitat

degradation due to land

development and

agriculture; nest

predation; pollution © Alan Wolf

Males and juveniles have

large yellow spots

outlined in black

Edge of

carapace is

yellow with a

black border

Carapace is flat

and olive -grey

to brown

Small spines on

edge of shell

behind neck

Long neck

and tubular

“pig-like”

snout

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Spotted Turtle

Clemmys guttata

OMNR Endangered

SARA Endangered

COSEWIC Endangered

Smooth black carapace with

bright yellow or orange

spots

© James Dowling-Healey

© Man of Mud

Size: 9 - 11.5 cm

Habitat: Prefers ponds,

bogs and marshes with

ample aquatic

vegetation; congregate

during mating season

Threats: Habitat

degradation; nest

predation; pollution;

pet trade

Males have brown

eyes and tan

chin; Females

have orange eyes

and yellow chin

Head, tail and

limbs are grey to

black with

yellow spots

Plastron

yellow-orange

with large

dark

irregular

blotch on

each scute

Inside of

limbs are

orange

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

DeKay’s Brown Snake

Storeria dekayi

© Patrick

OMNR -

SARA -

COSEWIC -

© Mike VanValen

Size: 22 - 33 cm

Habitat: Commonly

found in forested

regions but can be found

in diverse habitats. They

spend much of their time

under logs, rocks,

boards, leaves and

other cover.

Behaviour: Hibernate

underground or in

building foundations.

Dark bar

on side of

head

Two rows of

spots along

light coloured

stripe on

back

Light grey-brown

to red in colour

Juveniles have

three yellowish

spots on neck

Belly cream

or pinkish

Scales keeled;

anal scale

divided

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Eastern Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis

© Carly Lesser & Art Drauglis

OMNR -

SARA -

COSEWIC -

© Mike VanValen

Size: 46 - 66 cm

Habitat: Found in a

wide range of habitats

such as marshes,

woodlands, and

meadows

Note: Often confused

with the Eastern

Ribbon Snake but can

distinguished by the lack

of white crescent mark in

front of the eye.

May have

dark scales or

spots between

rows giving it a

checked

appearance

Black, green or

brown with three

yellow stripes

Belly

yellowish

green

Black

stripes on

labial

scales

Scales keeled;

anal scale

single

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Eastern Ribbon Snake

Thamnophis sauritus

OMNR Special Concern

SARA Special Concern

COSEWIC Special Concern

Dark green to black

with three yellow

stripes

© Steve Collins

©JD Wilson

Size: 45.5 - 66 cm

Habitat: Prefers

wetlands; congregates

to hibernate in burrows

or rock crevices

Threats: Habitat

degradation; Ontario is

the northern limit for

this species and may

have trouble surviving

in the climate

Belly

yellowish

green

Pure white

labial scales

Distinct

white half-

moon spot in

front of each

eye

May have

brown

coloring on

sides of

belly

Scales

keeled; anal

scale single

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Gray Rat Snake

Pantherophis spiloides

OMNR Threatened

SARA Threatened

COSEWIC Threatened

© Susy Morris

Size: 106.5 - 183 cm

Habitat: Woodlands

and fields; able to climb

trees and bushes

Threats: Road

mortality; habitat

degradation and

fragmentation; nest and

juvenile predation

Also known as Eastern

Rat or Black Rat Snake

Black with

faintly blotched

pattern

© Patrick Coin

© Mike VanValen

Juvenile has dark

bar across

snout from eye

to jaw

Juvenile

light grey

with dark

grey-brown

blotches

Throat white and

belly grey-brown

Scales weakly

keeled; anal

scale divided

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Milk Snake

Lampropeltis triangulum

© Mike VanValen

OMNR Special Concern

SARA Special Concern

COSEWIC Special Concern

© Michael

Size: 61 - 90 cm

Habitat: Fields and

barns where rodent

prey is common

Threats: Road

mortality; killed by

humans as they

inhabit barns and are

often mistaken for

Rattlesnakes as they

vibrate their tails in

defensive position

Cream, tan, or

light grey

Belly whitish

with black

checkerboard

pattern

Red or dark

brown blotches

bordered in

black

Light blotch on

neck V or Y

shaped

Scales

smooth; anal

scale single

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Northern Water Snake

Nerodia sipedon sipedon

OMNR -

SARA -

COSEWIC -

© Douglas Mills

Size: 61 - 106.5 cm

Habitat: Freshwater

species; lives near

ponds, rivers, lakes,

marshes or streams

Behaviour: Non-

venomous but will

strike and bite

repeatedly when

threatened

Reddish brown

squareish

blotches with

dark outline

Older

individuals,

pattern may

be less

pronounced

Scales keeled;

anal scale

divided

Belly cream

with irregular

rows of reddish

half moon

crescents

Gray-brown to

dark gray in

colour

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Red-bellied Snake

Storeria occipitomaculata

© Jonathan Crowe

OMNR -

SARA -

COSEWIC -

© Clocker

Size: 20 - 25.5 cm

Habitat: Found in

moist flowerbeds,

gardens, and moist

woodlands

Behaviour: Hides

under logs, rocks and

rubbish during the

days and hunts during

the nights

Reddish brown

to grey-brown

in colour

Three light

brown or

yellow spots

on neck

which may

fuse as a

collar

Orange-red

belly

Scales keeled;

anal scale

divided

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Ring-necked Snake

Diadophis punctatus edwardsi

© Randomtruth

OMNR -

SARA -

COSEWIC -

© Randomtruth

Size: 25.5 - 38 cm

Habitat: Wide range of

habitats; prefer areas

with dense cover

Behaviour: May coil

tail (as seen in the

photos) and emit an

odour when it feels

threatened

Shiny steel

blue, slate or

brown in

colour

Neck ring and

belly orange-

yellow

Scales adjacent

to neck ring

darker

Belly may have

rows of small

black spots

Scales

smooth; anal

scale divided

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

Smooth Green Snake

Opheodrys vernalis

OMNR -

SARA -

COSEWIC -

© Shuishouyue

© Squamotologist

Size: 30.5 - 51 cm

Habitat: Found in

moist meadows,

prairies and clearings

in coniferous forest

Note: Dead Smooth

Green snakes may turn

blue due to loss of

pigmentation

Bright shiny

emerald green

in colour

Belly

white or

yellow

Scales

smooth;

anal scale

divided

Labial

scales are

same

colour as

the belly

Assistance for this project was provided

by the Government of Ontario

GLOSSARY

Anal Scale - Scale just in front of the cloacal opening of snakes

which can either be single or divided

Barbels - Fleshy projections of skin growing under the mouth of a

turtle

Carapace - The hard upper shell of a turtle

Cloacal Opening - The opening to the cloaca, which serves as the

collective opening for reproductive, intestinal and urinary tracts.

Keeled Scales - Snakes’ scales that have a ridge down the center,

making them rough to the touch

Labial Scales - Scales that border the mouth opening of snakes,

much like lips

Longitudinal Keel - A raised ride along the centre of a turtle’s

shell

Plastron - Protective covering on the underside (ventral side) of a

turtle, made up of plates called scutes

Plastron Hinge -A joint in the plastron of a turtle allowing it to

close or bend to protect legs or head

Scutes - Thickened, bony plates on a turtle’s shell