Turtles in Mississippi

Mississippi consists almost entirely of lowlands, covered with wild and cultivated trees. These habitats support both freshwater and saltwater turtles. Some notable species are the Mississippi Map Turtle, the Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin, and the Pond Slider.

Types of Turtles Found in Mississippi

Sea Turtles (Cheloniidae)

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

Snapping Turtles (Chelydridae)

• Common Snapping Turtle
• Alligator Snapping Turtle

Leatherback Sea Turtles (Dermochelyidae)

• Leatherback Sea Turtle

Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys)

• Hawksbill Turtle

Emydid Turtles (Emydidae)

Painted Turtles

• Southern Painted Turtle

Chicken Turtles

• Eastern Chicken Turtle
• Western Chicken Turtle

Map Turtles

• Northern Map Turtle
• Ouachita Map Turtle
• Alabama Map Turtle
• Black-knobbed Sawback
• False Map Turtle
• Mississippi Map Turtle
• Pascagoula Map Turtle
• Pearl River Map Turtle
• Ringed Map Turtle
• Yellow-blotched Map Turtle

Terrapins

• Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin

Cooters

• Alabama Red-bellied Turtle
• Florida Cooter
• Eastern River Cooter

Box Turtles

• Eastern Box Turtle
• Gulf Coast Box Turtle
• Three-toed Box Turtle

Sliders

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

Mud and Musk Turtles (Kinosternidae)

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

Softshell Turtles (Trionychidae)

• Gulf Coast Smooth Softshell 
• Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell 

Tortoises (Testudinidae)

• Gopher Tortoise

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