Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (SNOMNH) Herpetology, hosted by the Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma: 82 species of reptiles
This page lists 17 turtles: all from Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (SNOMNH) Herpetology, hosted by the Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma's Checklist of Oklahoma Amphibians and Reptiles — Turtles.
Which turtles can hurt you
Official sources single out these turtles in Oklahoma, in their own words:
Bite (as described by ODWC). “When disturbed, snapping turtles usually attempt to escape, but if cornered will attempt to bite by explosively extending the head with mouth open.” Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Usually 15 to 26 inches of shell and 35 to 150 pounds; males can reach 29 inches and 249 pounds, females about 22 inches and 62 pounds. Missouri records over 250 pounds.
How to recognize it
Three prominent ridges on the upper shell
Very large head with a sharp, strongly hooked beak
ODWC field guide status: Species of Greatest Conservation Need
What the sources say
Habitat: The western chicken turtle is one of three chicken turtle subspecies and is the only subspecies found east of the Mississippi River. (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)
“When disturbed, snapping turtles usually attempt to escape, but if cornered will attempt to bite by explosively extending the head with mouth open.” Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Size
Upper shell usually 8 to 14 inches, occasionally to nearly 20; usually 10 to 35 lb, occasionally to 75 lb in the wild.
How to recognize it
Large head, long tail
Saw-toothed scales on the long tail
Small, cross-shaped lower shell
Where in Oklahoma
The common snapping turtle can easily be distinguished from all but one other turtle species in eastern Oklahoma by a combination of saw-toothed keels along the dorsal … Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
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55 records by month.What the sources say
Range: The common snapping turtle can easily be distinguished from all but one other turtle species in eastern Oklahoma by a combination of saw-toothed keels along the dorsal surface of the tail, tail at least as long as the carapace, large head, webbed feet, small plastron, a carapace with three distinct keels, and a body that cannot be hidden within the shell.
Habitat: The distribution of the common snapping turtle extends from the Yellowstone River Valley in Montana east across the entire United States and north from southern Canada through southern Texas and to the tip of Florida (a different subspecies occurs in peninsular Florida.) (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)
ODWC field guide status: Species of Greatest Conservation Need
What the sources say
Habitat: Ornate box turtles occur throughout Oklahoma, but are most common in the relatively open western counties. (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)
No confirmed photo of Ouachita map turtle
Ouachita map turtle
Graptemys ouachitensis
Photo: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
ODWC field guide status: Species of Greatest Conservation Need
What the sources say
Habitat: The turtles make their homes in aquatic habitats, such as medium to large flowing streams with sand or gravel bottoms. (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)
Eastern river cooters occur in rivers, large streams, lakes, and occasionally ponds across eastern Oklahoma, but extend into central Oklahoma along major river systems … Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Conservation
ODWC field guide status: Species of Greatest Conservation Need
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33 records by month.What the sources say
Range: Eastern river cooters occur in rivers, large streams, lakes, and occasionally ponds across eastern Oklahoma, but extend into central Oklahoma along major river systems in the northern and southern parts of the state.
Habitat: Eastern river cooters occur in rivers, large streams, lakes, and occasionally ponds across eastern Oklahoma, but extend into central Oklahoma along major river systems in the northern and southern parts of the state. (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)
The two species of softshell turtles (spiny and smooth) can easily be distinguished from all other turtles in Oklahoma by the total lack of scutes on the shell. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Conservation
ODWC field guide status: Species of Greatest Conservation Need
What the sources say
Habitat: The North American distribution of smooth softshells is confined for the most part to tributaries of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio rivers. (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)
The two species of softshell turtles (spiny and smooth) can easily be distinguished from all other turtles in Oklahoma by the total lack of scutes on the shell. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Conservation
ODWC field guide status: Species of Greatest Conservation Need
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40 records by month.What the sources say
Habitat: Spiny softshells have a wide distribution in North America, extending nearly continuously west to east from Oklahoma through western New York with additional populations in the Colorado and Rio Grand River systems in the west. (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)
Tennessee (TWRA): the alligator snapping turtle has a longer snout with a hooked beak, extra marginal scutes (shell-edge plates) and more conspicuous ridges on the shell. Missouri (MDC): its upper shell has 3 prominent ridges, one along the center line and one on either side, and its large head ends in a sharp, strongly hooked beak. Texas (TPWD): the common snapping turtle has an oval-shaped head and a comparatively smooth, rounded shell; the alligator snapper has three distinct ridges, a triangular head and a fleshy lure in its mouth. Caution: young common snapping turtles also have three keels on the shell (MDC, NCWRC, CT DEEP), so ridges alone do not separate small turtles.
The ornate box turtle usually has no ridge down the shell and has many yellow lines radiating from the center of each shell plate; it is more of a grassland species.
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
When turtles are active in Oklahoma
Records of turtles in Oklahoma peak in April to June. They show when people record turtles, not how many there are (about month bars).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
771 records of turtles in Oklahoma by month (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records).
If you are bitten or stung
Call 911 or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Poison Help connects you to your local poison center, any time of day.
How to report
Report wildlife sightings (including mountain lions and bears) to ODWC online at wildlifedepartment.com/wildlife/report-wildlife; report suspected invasive aquatic species to ODWC at (918) 200-4815 or online. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.
Sources
About Us. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Checklist of Oklahoma Amphibians and Reptiles. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (SNOMNH) Herpetology, hosted by the Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma. PDF created 2014-09-09, modified 2016-06-06; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (1)
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