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Painted Turtle

Chrysemys picta

Reptile · family Emydidae · order Testudines

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Painted Turtle
Photo: Jmalik ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
44 states[3]
Longest recorded life
61 years[4]

The Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) is a reptile in the family Emydidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it as Secure worldwide, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Painted Turtle a global rank of G5, which it labels Secure[2]. Its national rank for the United States is N5, also Secure[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The turtle is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. NatureServe estimates more than 1,000,000 adults worldwide, and says the population is stable, with small declines expected in western populations[8][9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[8] >1,000,000 individuals

Where Painted Turtle lives

NatureServe lists the Painted Turtle as native in 44 US states and territories, including the District of Columbia[3]. They stretch from Maine and Massachusetts to Georgia, Texas, Arizona, Oregon and Washington[3]. Nevada is the one place where NatureServe lists it as introduced, meaning people brought it there[10]. NatureServe also gives conservation ranks for 45 states[11]. These lists show where the species is recorded, not where you will see one[3].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5MEWisconsin: native, state rank S5WIVermont: native, state rank S5VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: native, state rank S4WAIdaho: native, state rank S3IDMontana: native, state rank S5MTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRNDMinnesota: native, state rank S5MNIllinois: native, state rank SNRILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: native, state rank S2ORNevada: introduced, state rank SNANVWyoming: native, state rank S4WYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5SDIowa: native, state rank S5IAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank SNROHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5PANew Jersey: native, state rank SNRNJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S5RICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: native, state rank SNAUTColorado: native, state rank S5CONebraska: native, state rank S5NEMissouri: native, state rank S5MOKentucky: native, state rank SNRKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5WVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: native, state rank S1AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S4NMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S3ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank SNRSCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S5DCOklahoma: native, state rank S2OKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: native, state rank SNRALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S1TXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (45 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaSNRNot Ranked
ArizonaS1Critically Imperiled
ArkansasS3Vulnerable
ColoradoS5Secure
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS5Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IdahoS3Vulnerable
IllinoisSNRNot Ranked
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS5Secure
KansasS5Secure
KentuckySNRNot Ranked
MaineS5Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaS5Secure
MissouriS5Secure
MontanaS5Secure
NebraskaS5Secure
NevadaSNANot Applicable
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseySNRNot Ranked
New MexicoS4Apparently Secure
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5Secure
North DakotaSNRNot Ranked
OhioSNRNot Ranked
OklahomaS2Imperiled
OregonS2Imperiled
PennsylvaniaS5Secure
Rhode IslandS5Secure
South CarolinaSNRNot Ranked
South DakotaS5Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS1Critically Imperiled
UtahSNANot Applicable
VermontS5Secure
VirginiaS5Secure
WashingtonS4Apparently Secure
West VirginiaS5Secure
WisconsinS5Secure
WyomingS4Apparently Secure

Habitat

The Painted Turtle lives in calm, shallow water with a soft bottom, such as rivers, creeks, marshes, ponds and lakes[12]. NatureServe also records temporary pools, wetlands with trees or shrubs, and riverbanks as habitat[13]. Water plants and plenty of places to bask matter to it[12]. Females make nests in loose ground away from the water's edge, sometimes several hundred meters off[12][14].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[13]

Size, diet and lifespan

This turtle is an omnivore, which means it eats both plants and animals[15]. It takes food opportunistically, living or dead, from the bottom of the water or among water plants[15]. NatureServe records adult food habits as carnivore, fish eater, invertebrate eater and plant eater[16]. A typical length recorded by NatureServe is 25 cm (10 in)[17]. Females reach sexual maturity at about 2,750 days of age[18]. A female can make up to five clutches of eggs in one season, and a clutch holds from 1 to 23 eggs[14]. The longest recorded lifespan is 61 years in the wild, which is a record and not a typical age[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[17] 25 cm (10 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 61 years (wild)
Female maturity[18] 2,750 days (about 7.5 years)
Food habits[16] Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore, Herbivore
Migration[19] local migrant

When to look for it

Over most of its range, the Painted Turtle is active in the daytime from March through October[20][21]. In the far north it starts in late April or May[20]. In the coldest months it goes dormant, and it can withstand temperatures as low as -2°C[20]. Most nesting happens between late May and early July[14]. GBIF observation records in the United States peak in April, May and June[22]. Those records show when people look and report, not how many turtles there are[22].

January: 253 recordsJanFebruary: 774 recordsFebMarch: 6,120 recordsMarApril: 16,264 recordsAprMay: 20,315 recordsMayJune: 19,324 recordsJunJuly: 10,484 recordsJulAugust: 9,210 recordsAugSeptember: 8,031 recordsSepOctober: 3,470 recordsOctNovember: 906 recordsNovDecember: 275 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[22].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January253
February774
March6,120
April16,264
May20,315
June19,324
July10,484
August9,210
September8,031
October3,470
November906
December275

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Painted Turtle as present in 38 park units[23]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 14 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Ohio, Massachusetts, Virginia, Michigan, Maryland[24]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Painted Turtle endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, Secure, worldwide[2].
Where does the Painted Turtle live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 44 US states and territories and as introduced in Nevada[3][10]. It uses calm, shallow water such as ponds, marshes and slow rivers[12].
What does the Painted Turtle eat?
It is an omnivore that eats many kinds of plants and animals, living or dead[15].
How big is a Painted Turtle?
NatureServe records a typical length of 25 cm (10 in)[17].
How long does a Painted Turtle live?
The longest recorded lifespan is 61 years in the wild[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Painted Turtle is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Painted Turtle: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Painted Turtle as native in 44 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 61 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) is a reptile in the family Emydidae, order Testudines. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe notes on trend for Painted Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe lists Painted Turtle as introduced (not native) in: Nevada. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe state ranks for Painted Turtle (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Painted Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Habitat types NatureServe records for Painted Turtle: Temporary pool, Herbaceous wetland, Scrub-shrub wetland, Forested wetland, Riparian, Big river, Medium river, Creek, Low gradient, Pool, Shallow water. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Painted Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on food for Painted Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore, Herbivore. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 25 cm (10 in). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 2,750 days (about 7.5 years). AnAge
  19. NatureServe migration category for Painted Turtle: local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  20. NatureServe notes on phenology for Painted Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  21. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Hibernates/aestivates, Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  22. GBIF observation records of Painted Turtle in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  23. NPSpecies park lists recording Painted Turtle as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  24. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Painted Turtle: Ohio, Massachusetts, Virginia, Michigan, Maryland. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Jmalik ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.