Common Name

Taxonomic Name

Length

Preferred Habitat

Food Potential

Snapping Turtle

Chelydra serpentina

12" - 18"

Aquatic: ponds, rivers, lakes, creeks

Excellent flavor

Red-bellied Terrapin

Pseudemys rubriventris

10" - 12.5"

Aquatic: ponds, lakes, streams, salt marshes

Comparable to diamondback

N. Diamondback Terrapin

Malaclemmys terrapin terrapin

5" - 9.5 "

Aquatic but often found on land: Brackish marshes, rivers

Delicacy

E. Painted Turtle

Chrysemys picta picta

5" - 7"

Aquatic: ponds, lakes, streams

Palatable

Box Turtle

Terrapene carolina

4" - 6"

Terrestrial: wooded areas and open fields

Risky

Spotted Turtle

Clemmys guttata

3" - 5"

Terrestrial: ponds, swamps, marshes, streams

Small

Eastern Mud Turtle

Kinosternum subrubrum

2.5" - 5"

Aquatic but often found on land: avoids deep water

Musky flavor

Common Musk Turtle

Sternotherus odoratus

2.5" - 5"

Aquatic but often found on land: streams

Extremely musky