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Bell's Terrapin
- Colouration
- Carapace dark olive or brown; the yellowish borders on the larger shields to be noted with the two preceding terrapin, are very narrow, or absent. On some specimens the shields are narrowly margined with black. Traversing the carapace are irregular, vein-like lines, usually crossing the centres of the shields.
- Dimensions
- A female specimen from St. Clair County, Illinois, shows the following measurements:
- Distribution
- United States west of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to British Columbia and eastern Oregon.
In shape the carapace is similar to the two preceding species, but this is a larger terrapin. It is most nearly allied to C. cinerea.
The markings of the under, marginal shields of the carapace are less brilliant than with the allied species; the red bars may be present but they are of a dull hue.
The symmetrical, black pattern on the plastron, is characteristic. This is well illustrated in the photograph. The markings on the head, neck and limbs appeal to the Western Painted Terrapin, C. Cinerea.
Length of Carapace . . . . . 5 3/4 inches.
Width of Carapace . . . . . 4 1/2 inches.
Length of Plastron . . . . . 5 1/4 inches.
Total Width Plastron . . . . . 3 1/2 inches.
Width of Head . . . . . 1 inches.