Turtles in North Carolina

North Carolina has three habitats: mountains, rolling hills, and coasts. Freshwater turtles like the Common Snapping Turtle and the Spotted Turtle live in the more forested areas near rivers and lakes. Meanwhile, sea turtles are often spotted swimming off the state’s coasts in the Atlantic.

Types of Turtles Found in North Carolina

Sea Turtles (Cheloniidae)

• Loggerhead Sea Turtle
• Green Sea Turtle
• Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

Snapping Turtles (Chelydridae)

• Common Snapping Turtle

Leatherback Sea Turtles (Dermochelyidae)

• Leatherback Sea Turtle

Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys)

• Hawksbill Turtle

Emydid Turtles (Emydidae)

Painted Turtles

• Eastern Painted Turtle

Chicken Turtles

• Eastern Chicken Turtle

Terrapins

• Diamondback Terrapin

Spotted Turtles

• Spotted Turtle

Cooters

• Florida Cooter
• Coastal Plain Cooter
• Eastern River Cooter
• Northern Red-bellied Cooter

Box Turtles

• Eastern Box Turtle

Glyptemys Turtles

• Bog Turtle

Sliders

• Red-eared Slider
• Yellow-bellied Slider
• Pond Slider

Mud and Musk Turtles (Kinosternidae)

• Striped Mud Turtle 
• Eastern Mud Turtle
• Loggerhead Musk Turtle 
• Eastern Musk Turtle (Stinkpot)
• Striped-necked Musk Turtle 

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