Chrysemys picta
(painted turtle)

Pictures

Picture	Title	Caption	Copyright
Title Adult Caption Chrysemys picta (painted turtle); adult, at water surface. Eastern USA. September, 2011. Copyright ©Greg Schechter- CC BY 2.0 - via Wikimedia	Adult	Chrysemys picta (painted turtle); adult, at water surface. Eastern USA. September, 2011.	©Greg Schechter- CC BY 2.0 - via Wikimedia

Identity

Preferred Scientific Name

• Chrysemys picta Schneider

Preferred Common Name

• painted turtle

Local Common Names

• Germany: Zierschildkröte

Summary of Invasiveness

C. picta is an aquatic turtle native to North America popular with pet fanciers around the world. The pet trade is the most common mode of invasion pathway for this species, as individuals escape from their enclosures or when people release them intentionally when they are tired of caring for their pet, when their animals are sick, or to establish new populations. C. picta has been introduced to Europe (Kraus 2009), parts of the United States (Kraus 2009), and in Asia in Indonesia and Philippine Islands (Uetz and Hosek, 2015) but evidence of impact is lacking in the literature. C. picta is listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List (IUCN, 2016).

Taxonomic Tree

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Metazoa
•         Phylum: Chordata
•             Subphylum: Vertebrata
•                 Class: Reptilia
•                     Order: Testudines
•                         Family: Emydidae
•                             Genus: Chrysemys
•                                 Species: Chrysemys picta

Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature

Based on colour pattern and morphology (Ernst and Lovich, 2009), there are three currently recognized subspecies of C. picta (Uetz and Hosek, 2015): the western painted turtle, C. picta bellii (Gray, 1831); the midland painted turtle, C. picta marginata (Agassiz, 1857), and the eastern painted turtle, C. picta picta (Schneider, 1783). Based on phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), a former fourth subspecies, the southern painted turtle, C. dorsalis (Agassiz, 1857), was elevated to species status (Starkey et al., 2003), however the taxonomy of C. dorsalis remains debatable (Uetz and Hosek, 2015).

Description

C. picta is a small (up to 25.4 cm carapace length) turtle that is olive to black with yellow and red borders along the scute seams and red bars or crescents on the marginal scutes (Ernst and Lovich, 2009), giving it the common name ‘painted turtle’. The carapace is smooth and oval, and some individuals may have a red or yellow mid-dorsal stripe (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). The hingeless plastron is yellow with black or red to brown blotches, and the neck, legs and tail have yellow and red stripes (Ernst and Lovich, 2009).

Distribution

C. picta is the only native transcontinental turtle species in North America. It occurs from southern British Columbia eastward to Nova Scotia in Canada, and Oregon southeastward to southern Georgia in the USA (Ernst and Lovich, 2009), and with scattered southwestern populations in Arizona, Colorado and Utah (Lovich et al., 2014).

C. picta dorsalis, originally described from Louisiana, was elevated to species status (as C. dorsalis, according to Starkey et al., 2003) but records of its occurrence are included with C. picta s.s. in the Distribution Table and maps.

C. picta has been introduced to Europe (Kraus 2009) in Austria (Kaltenegger, 2006), Germany (Podloucky, 1998; Fritz and Lehmann, 2002), the UK (Swanton, 1928; Taylor, 1948, 1963; Fitter, 1959; Frazer, 1964; Beebee and Griffiths, 2000; Arnold and Ovenden, 2002), Malta (Despott, 1913) and Spain (Mateo, 1997; Barbadillo et al., 1999; Pleguezuelos, 2004; Rhodin et al. 2010).

Although native to many states of the USA, there have also been introductions via the pet trade (Kraus 2009) in Arizona (Hulse, 1980; Jennings, 1987b; Lazaroff et al., 2006), California (Banta and Morafka, 1966; Bury and Luckenbach, 1976; Stebbins, 1985; Jennings, 1987a, 2004; Holland, 1994; Spinks et al., 2003), Colorado (Rodeck, 1948; Livo et al., 1998), Florida (King and Krakauer, 1966; Bartlett, 1967; Iverson and Etchberger, 1989; King and Burke, 1989; Krysko et al., 2011), Illinois (Dancik, 1974) and New Mexico (Stuart, 2000, 2001).

C. picta has also been introduced to Indonesia and the Philippine Islands (Uetz and Hosek, 2015). 

Distribution Table

The distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.

History of Introduction and Spread

C. picta has been introduced, without evidence of establishing, to Austria (Kaltenegger, 2006), Germany (Podloucky, 1998; Fritz and Lehmann, 2002), the UK as early as 1905 (Swanton, 1928; Taylor, 1948, 1963; Fitter, 1959; Frazer, 1964; Beebee and Griffiths, 2000; Arnold and Ovenden, 2002), Malta as early as the 1910s (Despott, 1913), Arizona in the 1960s and 2002 (Hulse, 1980; Jennings, 1987b; Lazaroff et al., 2006), California in 1974 and the 1990s (Banta and Morafka, 1966; Bury and Luckenbach, 1976; Stebbins, 1985; Jennings, 1987a, 2004; Holland, 1994; Spinks et al., 2003), Colorado in 1947 and 1993 (Rodeck, 1948; Livo et al., 1998), Florida in 1933, 1938, 1964, 1983 and 2007 (King and Krakauer, 1966; Bartlett, 1967; Iverson and Etchberger, 1989; King and Burke, 1989; Krysko et al., 2011), Illinois in 1971 (Dancik, 1974), and New Mexico in 1998 and 2000 (Stuart, 2000, 2001).

This species has been introduced at least four times via the pet trade to Spain, where it has successfully become established (Mateo, 1997; Barbadillo et al., 1999; Pleguezuelos, 2004; Kraus, 2009; Rhodin et al. 2010). 

Introductions

Risk of Introduction

C. picta is an aquatic turtle species with beautiful colouration, commonly known as ‘painted turtle’, and is popular with pet fanciers around the world. The pet trade is the most common invasion pathway for this species, as individuals escape from their enclosures or are intentionally released by people tired of caring for their pet, or when their animals are sick, or to establish new populations.

Habitat

C. picta prefers slow moving shallow fresh water with soft bottom, vegetation and basking sites, but it is also tolerant of brackish water and polluted fresh water (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). It avoids fast moving water (Ernst and Lovich, 2009).

Habitat List

Biology and Ecology

Genetics

C. picta has 50 chromosomes (Stock, 1972; Killebrew, 1977a; DeSmet, 1978).

Reproductive biology

Females attain a larger size than males. Males have longer foreclaws to hold onto females during reproduction, a longer and thicker tail, and the cloaca is posterior to the carapace (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). Males actively look for females, and so are more inclined to disperse to new water bodies (Tuberville et al., 1996). Males typically mature in 2-4 years or between 7 and 9.5 cm plastron length (PL), whereas females typically mature in 6-10 years or 9.7–12.8 cm PL (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). Courtship and mating typically occur from March through June, but can sometimes last until September (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). A female can store viable sperm for up to three years and a clutch may have multiple male parents (Pearse et al., 2001a). Oviposition of up to 23 eggs typically occurs from April through July (Dundee and Rossman, 1989; Trauth et al., 2004). Females can oviposit up to five clutches in a year (Ernst and Lovich, 2009).

Physiology and phenology

C. picta can tolerate cold temperatures, but its northernmost distribution is likely determined by exposure to subfreezing temperatures (St. Claire and Gregory, 1990). The critical thermal minimum for C. picta is about -2°C (Ernst and Lovich, 2009); however, Diamond (1989) reported survival as low as -8°C.

Longevity

C. picta can live between 30 and 40 years in the wild, and possibly up to 61 years (Congdon et al., 2003a; Siess, 2005; Ernst and Lovich, 2009).

Activity patterns

C. picta is diurnal and active mostly during warmer parts of the year, although individuals can be active all year in southern populations (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). C. picta can move long distances to adjacent water bodies, sometimes over land (MacCulloch and Secoy, 1983a), but its home range has not been adequately studied (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). Homing ability has been documented, some of which required crossing over land (Cagle, 1944b; Williams, 1952; Gould, 1959; Emlen, 1969; Ernst, 1970e; Whillans and Crossman, 1977; DeRosa and Taylor, 1978; Quinn and Graves, 1998).

Population size and structure

C. picta can exhibit dense population sizes of up to 838 individuals per hectare (Gibbons, 1968b; Frazer et al., 1991b). Age classes are typically skewed toward adults, especially in rivers (Ernst and Lovich, 2009).

Nutrition

C. picta is an omnivorous generalist and feeds upon a large variety of algae, plants and animals (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). 

Climate

Latitude/Altitude Ranges

Air Temperature

Water Tolerances

Means of Movement and Dispersal

Natural dispersal

C. picta disperses from its hibernating ponds to outlying bodies water during spring, and slowly migrates back to hibernacula during autumn (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). 

Accidental introduction

The pet trade is the likely invasion pathway for C. picta around the word, and it is possible that animals have escaped enclosures and therefore were accidentally introduced. However, information is needed to illustrate individual accidental releases.

Intentional introduction

C. picta has been intentionally introduced in Malta, the UK and California (Kraus, 2009). This species has been introduced via the pet trade (unknown if accidental or intentional) in Spain, the UK, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida and Illinois (Kraus, 2009). 

Impact Summary

Risk and Impact Factors

• Proved invasive outside its native range
• Has a broad native range
• Abundant in its native range
• Highly adaptable to different environments
• Tolerant of shade
• Capable of securing and ingesting a wide range of food
• Highly mobile locally
• Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
• Long lived
• Fast growing
• Gregarious
• Has propagules that can remain viable for more than one year

• Negatively impacts animal health
• Reduced native biodiversity

• Hybridization
• Predation

• Highly likely to be transported internationally accidentally
• Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately
• Highly likely to be transported internationally illegally

Detection and Inspection

C. picta is easily detected (see Description). As many as 50 individuals can be observed on a single log at one time (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). 

Similarities to Other Species/Conditions

C. picta is sometimes confused with other native North American turtles such as Graptemys, Pseudemys and Trachemys, but all of these have a vertebral keel, serrated posterior carapace rim and usually much larger females (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). Additionally, Deirochelys has a much longer neck, wide stripe on the forelimb, and vertically striped behind (Ernst and Lovich, 2009).

Prevention and Control

Due to the variable regulations around (de)registration of pesticides, your national list of registered pesticides or relevant authority should be consulted to determine which products are legally allowed for use in your country when considering chemical control. Pesticides should always be used in a lawful manner, consistent with the product's label.

SPS measures

Chrysemys picta is not listed in CITES, and is listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 

Gaps in Knowledge/Research Needs

Although many aspects of about the natural history of C. picta have been reported, data are needed regarding impacts on biodiversity in their introduced range. 

References

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Principal Source

Draft datasheet under review

Contributors

21/04/15 Original text by:

Kenneth Krysko, University of Florida, USA

Distribution Maps