Turtles in Missouri

Missouri has several habitats that suit freshwater turtles, including the Lake of the Ozarks, the Mississippi River, the Missouri River, and the Table Rock Lake. Some of the turtles in the state include the Common Snapping Turtle, the Painted Turtle, and the Yellow Mud Turtle.

Types of Turtles Found in Missouri

Snapping Turtles (Chelydridae)

• Common Snapping Turtle
• Alligator Snapping Turtle

Emydid Turtles (Emydidae)

Painted Turtles

• Southern Painted Turtle
• Western Painted Turtle

Chicken Turtles

• Western Chicken Turtle

Map Turtles

• Northern Map Turtle
• Ouachita Map Turtle
• False Map Turtle

Blanding’s Turtles

•  Blanding’s Turtle

Cooters

• Eastern River Cooter

Box Turtles

• Three-toed Box Turtle
• Ornate Box Turtle
• Western Box Turtle

Sliders

• Red-eared Slider
• Pond Slider

Mud and Musk Turtles (Kinosternidae)

• Eastern Mud Turtle
• Eastern Musk Turtle (Stinkpot)
• Mississippi Mud Turtle
• Yellow Mud Turtle

Softshell Turtles (Trionychidae)

• Midland Smooth Softshell
• Eastern Spiny Softshell 

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