This species has an extremely long neck that is striped with yellow and also has vertical black and yellow stripes on the "seat of its pants." Some say due to it's long neck, other say it was a popular dish for early settlers and did indeed taste like chicken. [2021]. Shell length is usually about 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 inches). We highly recommend reviewing metadata files prior to interpreting these data. The shell of Chicken Turtles will vary, but many of them feature lovely yellow and green rings. Florida chicken turtles nest nearly continuously from mid-September to early March. July 18 & 19, 2020 West Palm Beach, FL. Florida Chicken Turtle Deirochelys reticularia. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Sea Grant Extension Agent in Escambia County, “Dirty Dozen” Invasive Species – Japanese Climbing Fern, EDRR Invasive Species of the Month – Eurasian Milfoil. Her shell is a deep dark green, with a beautiful pattern, shown in the pictures. Females excavate cylindrical nests on land in a variety of soil types, from sandy to heavy soils. It was missing one leg, we are guessing raccoon attack, and we kept it for the afternoon before letting it go. Deirochelys reticularia chrysea. Meylan P.A. Most of the ponds where these turtles have been found are less than 20 inches deep. Table 1. website builder. Chicken turtles are divided into three different species which are located at different locations on the southeast side of the United States. Diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin. Most shells are in the 10-inch range in length and, like many species of turtles, the males are smaller. The average number of eggs deposited is around 10 and, like other turtles, more than one clutch will be laid each season. Category: Other North American Turtles. Occurrences are summarized in Table 1, alphabetically by state, with years of earliest and most recent observations, and the tally and names of drainages where the species was observed. The females wander over open ground seeking good nesting sites. Common name: Florida Chicken Turtle. They do not seem to be very abundant in the ponds they inhabit; 3-5 turtles/hectare seems to about the norm. Florida Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia chrysea) Florida Chicken Turtle, Dixie County, Florida. It is the user's responsibility to use these data consistent with their intended purpose and within stated limitations. Description: Chicken Turtles are mid-sized turtles (6-9 in; 15-23 cm carapace length) with shells that are egg-shaped (widest over the hind legs) and patterned with a pale yellowish netlike pattern. Two other natives are occasionally encountered, tagged, and released. View fullsize. This turtle is found in the Atlantic coastal plains and there are two subspecies found in Florida: Deirochelys reticularia reticularia and D. r. chrysea. That said, they are around – and I hope you find one someday. Names and dates are hyperlinked to their relevant specimen records. Chelonian Research Monographs No.3, 376 pp. Create your website today. Try browsing the Turtles Index if you're looking for something specific. Chicken Turtle Facts and Information. It is a dark black to olive color and has a distinct pattern of yellow stripes looking like a fish net on the shell. They like to commute between water locations and often burrow as well. Range Chicken Turtles are found in south eastern United States from Virginia to Texas and north to Oklahoma and Arkansas. It was pretty exciting, and it was a day or so before we figured out what kind it was – you don’t see chicken turtles very often, so it was a surprise. 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