A member of the family Emydidae (“pond or marsh turtles”), the Chrysemys genus is restricted to North America. In BC, C. picta occurs as two populations (Pacific Coast and Intermountain – Rocky Mountain). The Pacific Coast population is found in the Lower Fraser Valley, Sunshine Coast, Texada Island, and parts of Vancouver Island. Its name is because the underside of the shell has a distinctive red or orange pattern. In addition to living in slow-moving waterbodies, exposed sand or gravel areas are used for nesting. Besides loss of habitats, such as wetlands, other threats include road mortality and introduced species, such as the invasive Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans).
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On basking log
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Plastron
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Red-eared Sliders
This is a species at risk. To find its current at-risk designation and listing info, visit the BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. For direction on finding additional species recovery information, visit the Species and Ecological Communities Profiles Overview webpage.
Resources
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BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer
Provincial site providing current information for BC’s plants, animals and...
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Painted Turtle Species Profile
SCCP’s Species Profile of the Western Painted Turtle, Pacific Coast...
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Coastal Painted Turtle Project
Recovery program for the Painted Turtle through the Coastal Partners...
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Habitat Acquisition Trust Species at Risk Webpages
Habitat Acquisition Trust, based in Victoria, BC, has an informative...
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