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Chicken Turtle
- Colouration
- Carapace olive or brown, with a net-work of fine, yellow lines; the under marginal shields are yellow and each contains a black blotch. Plastron immaculate yellow.
- Dimensions
- A moderate-sized example from Baker Co., Ga., shows these measurements:
- Distribution
- States east of the Mississippi River, from North Carolina to Florida (inclusive).
The Chicken Turtle belongs to the first group of the genus, but may be recognised by the following characteristics:
1. The exceedingly long, snake-like neck.
2. The absence of red markings on the upper and lower marginal shields.
3. The yellow bar on each upper marginal shield.
4. The broad, yellow band on the forelimb.
5. The narrow and rather globular shell.
This species grows to a length of eight inches. The shell is narrower and proportionately higher than that of any of the terrapins. Though the neck is extremely long, the head is entirely retractile.
On each forelimb is a wide, cream-coloured band; the under surface of the tail and limbs is yellow, as is the greater portion of the throat, though there are several pairs of black stripes. Above, the head is traversed by narrow stripes.
Length of Carapace . . . . . 5 1/8 inches.
Width of " . . . . . 3 1/4 inches.
Length of Plastron . . . . . 4 3/8 inches.
Width, Flat Portion, Plastron . . . . . 1 7/8 inches.
Length of Head and Neck . . . . . 4 inches.
Width of Head . . . . . 7/8 inches.
The largest specimen examined by the writer was 8 1/4 inches long (carapace) and weighed 3 3/4 pounds. The shell was black and all trace of the yellow, reticulated pattern had faded with age; the entire carapace was so covered with small furrows as to appear dull and lustreless. This turtle was taken near Orlando, Florida.