Turtles in South Carolina

South Carolina has three environments: mountains, hills, and coastal plains. The last one is notable, as several saltwater turtles can be seen off the state’s coasts. There are also several freshwater turtles, like the Alligator Snapping Turtle, the Eastern Painted Turtle, and the Florida Cooter.

Types of Turtles Found in South Carolina

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

• Eastern Painted Turtle

Chicken Turtles

• Chicken Turtle

Map Turtles

• Northern Map Turtle
• False Map Turtle 

Cooters

• Florida Cooter
• Eastern River Cooter

Box Turtles

• Eastern Box Turtle

Glyptemys Turtles

• Bog Turtle

Sliders

• Yellow-bellied Slider
• Pond Slider

Mud and Musk Turtles (Kinosternidae)

• Striped Mud Turtle 
• Eastern Mud Turtle
• Eastern Musk Turtle (Stinkpot)

Softshell Turtles (Trionychidae)

• Florida Softshell 
• Smooth Softshell
• Spiny Softshell

Tortoises (Testudinidae)

• Gopher Tortoise

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