Missouri Animals Western chicken turtle   (Deirochelys reticularia miaria) Chordate: Vertebrate: Reptile: Testudines: (Turtles) Native North American turtle Habitat: river sloughs, swamps. Diet: insects, crayfish. ID Features: dark body, yellow stripes on head. Natural History: The western chicken turtle is a semi-aquatic turtle that reaches 6 inches in length. It is found wandering on land as often as basking on logs in the water..

The graphics and text are from: The Amphibians and Reptiles of Missouri by Tom R. Johnson, Missouri Department of Conservation, ©1992