Missouri Animals Western painted turtle   (Chelydra serpentina) Chordate: Vertebrate: Reptile: Testudines: (Turtles) Native North American turtle Habitat: slow-moving rivers, sloughs, lakes. Diet: aquatic plants, snails, crayfish, insects, fish. ID Features: black shell, red and orange stripes on head and front legs. Natural History: The western painted turtle is a smooth shelled thrutle that grows to 7 inches in carapace length. It is a basking turtle and is commonly seen on logs in the sun..

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