A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California
California Turtles Range Maps
These maps illustrate the general historic range of established native and non-native turtles found in California. Red, or another color indicated below the map, shows this distribution. Turtles of the species or subspecies shown are expected to be found within the illustrated area in places where suitable habitat and conditions occur. In some cases, the current range may be fragmented or considerably diminished from the range illustrated here. While there have been a couple of established locations for Green Sea Turtles, Sea turtles generally show up unpredictably at various locations in coastal waters and beaches. Locations that I have found so far for each species are shown here. Click on the name link for pictures and information about a particular turtle. Click on a map for a topographical view More Lists And Information About California Turtles |
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| Pond Turtle | Sonora Mud Turtle | Mohave Desert Tortoise |
| Red: Actinemys marmorata - Northwestern Pond Turtle Orange: Actinemys pallida - Southwestern Pond Turtle |
Red: Kinosternon sonoriense sonoriense - Sonora Mud Turtle (Extinct in California) |
Red: Gopherus agassizii - Mohave Desert Tortoise |
| Sea Turtles | ||
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| Loggerhead Sea Turtle | Green Sea Turtle | Leatherback Sea Turtle |
| Red dots: Caretta caretta - Loggerhead Sea Turtle |
Red dots: Chelonia mydas - Green Sea Turtle | Red dots: Dermochelys coriacea - Leatherback Sea Turtle |
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| Pacific Hawksbill Sea Turtle | Olive Ridley Sea Turtle | |
| Red: Eretmochelys imbricata bissa - Pacific Hawksbill Sea Turtle |
Red dots: Lepidochelys olivacea - Olive Ridley Sea Turtle | |
| Non-Native Species | ||
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| Snapping Turtle | Western Painted Turtle | Red-eared Slider |
| Red dots: Chelydra serpentina - Snapping Turtle |
Red: Chrysemys picta bellii - Western Painted Turtle |
Red: Trachemys scripta elegans - Red-eared Slider |
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| Texas Spiny Softshell | Florida Softshell | |
| Red: Apalone spinifera emoryi - Texas Spiny Softshell |
Red: Apalone ferox - Florida Softshell | |