A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California
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California Desert Turtles
(Under Construction)
Distribution of California Deserts Covered Here
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| Southwestern Pond Turtle Actinemys pallida |
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 Orange: Range of Southwestern Pond Turtle |
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| The shell is typically 3.5 to 8.5 inches long. Hatchlings are abut 1 inch long. A dark brown, olive, or black turtle with a low unkeeled shell, usually with a pattern of lines or spots radiating from the centers of the scutes. The head and neck are light in color with dark mottling. |
Diurnal. Maybe be common in some areas, but declining. Found in ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, creeks, marshes, and irrigation ditches with abundant vegetation in a variety of areas including wooland, forest, grassland, and parks. Rarely seen away from water. Often seen basking just above the water |
Eats aquatic plants, bugs, worms, frog eggs and tadpoles, salamander eggs and larvae, crayfish, carrion, and occasionally frogs and fish. Females crawl onto land and lay eggs between April and August. |
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| Mohave Desert Tortoise Gopherus agassizii |
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| Desert Mud Turtle Kinosternon sonoriense sonoriense |
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| Texas Spiny Softshell Apalone spinifera emoryi Not Native to California |
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 Red: Range of Texas Spiny Softshell |
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| The shell is 5 to 21 inches long. A flat turtle with a rounded, leathery shell without visible scutes and a long snout with open nostrils on the end. The shell is olive, brown, or gray in color, sometimes with dark markings that fade with age. The head and limbs are olive to gray with dark markings and two light stripes mark each side of the head. |
Diurnal. Uncommon and not native to our area. Found in permanent rivers, agricultural canals, drainage ditches, artificial lakes, and ponds. |
Eats insects, crayfish, worms, snails, fish, frogs, and tadpoles. Females crawl onto land and lay eggs between May and August that hatch between August and September. |
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