Turtles in Tennessee

Tennessee has a temperate climate, covered with deciduous forests. Several rivers flow through the state, including the Mississippi River, the Cumberland River, and the Tennessee River. These conditions are ideal for freshwater turtles like the Common Snapping Turtle, the Eastern Box Turtle, and the Eastern Spiny Softshell.

Types of Turtles Found in Tennessee

Snapping Turtles (Chelydridae)

• Common Snapping Turtle
• Alligator Snapping Turtle

Emydid Turtles (Emydidae)

Painted Turtles

• Southern Painted Turtle
• Eastern Painted Turtle
• Midland Painted Turtle

Map Turtles

• Northern Map Turtle
• Ouachita Map Turtle
• False Map Turtle
• Mississippi Map Turtle

Cooters

• Eastern River Cooter
• Hieroglyphic River Cooter

Box Turtles

• Eastern Box Turtle
• Three-toed Box Turtle

Glyptemys Turtles

• Bog Turtle

Sliders

• Red-eared Slider
• Yellow-bellied Slider
• Cumberland Slider

Mud and Musk Turtles (Kinosternidae)

• Eastern Mud Turtle
• Loggerhead Musk Turtle 
• Eastern Musk Turtle (Stinkpot)
• Striped-necked Musk Turtle 

Softshell Turtles (Trionychidae)

• Midland Smooth Softshell
• Eastern Spiny Softshell 

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