Identification, Distribution, and Ecology:
Painted turtles are the most widely distributed turtles in North America. They live in permanent freshwater habitats such as ponds, lakes, marshes, sloughs, and creeks. Male paints are typically smaller than the females and have longer front claws. They also have longer, thicker tails. Painted turtles can live up to 40 years in the wild but in captivity do not live near as long. Most painted turtles sleep underwater, buried in the sand or mud. They eat fish, insects, plants, fruit, carrion, and anything else they find.
