Eastern Musk Turtle
Sternotherus odoratus
West Virginia Turtles: Identification Guide With Pictures
Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
WVDNR: It is home to 36 salamander species, 24 snake species, 15 frog and toad species, 14 turtle species, and 6 lizard species.
This page lists 14 turtles: all from WVDNR's Amphibians & Reptiles.
All 14 turtles
From A to Z.
No confirmed photo of Eastern Painted Turtle
Eastern Painted Turtle
Chrysemys p. picta
No confirmed photo of Eastern River Cooter
Eastern River Cooter
Pseudemys c. concinna
- Conservation
- WV State Wildlife Action Plan species of greatest conservation need; state rank S2 (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Eastern Spiny Softshell
Eastern Spiny Softshell
Apalone s. spinifera
- Conservation
- WV State Wildlife Action Plan species of greatest conservation need; state rank S4 (2015 list)
Midland Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta marginata
No confirmed photo of Midland Smooth Softshell
Midland Smooth Softshell
Apalone m. mutica
- Conservation
- WV State Wildlife Action Plan species of greatest conservation need; state rank S1; Priority 1 (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Northern Map Turtle
Northern Map Turtle
Graptemys geographica
- Conservation
- WV State Wildlife Action Plan species of greatest conservation need; state rank S1; Priority 1 (2015 list)
Northern Red-bellied Cooter
Pseudemys rubriventris
- Conservation
- WV State Wildlife Action Plan species of greatest conservation need; state rank S2 (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Ouachita Map Turtle
Ouachita Map Turtle
Graptemys ouachitensis
- Conservation
- WV State Wildlife Action Plan species of greatest conservation need; state rank S1; Priority 1 (2015 list)
Red-eared Slider
Trachemys scripta elegans
Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
- 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
Spotted Turtle
Clemmys guttata
- Conservation
- WV State Wildlife Action Plan species of greatest conservation need; state rank S1; Priority 1 (2015 list)
Wood Turtle
Glyptemys insculpta
- Size
- 14-20 cm (5.5-8 in)
- How to recognize it
- Lower shell has no hinge
- Combination of brown shell, orange front limbs and a lower shell solidly fused to the upper shell
- Males: concave lower shell, long thick tail, broader head
- Conservation
- WV State Wildlife Action Plan species of greatest conservation need; state rank S3; Priority 1 (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Woodland Box Turtle
Woodland Box Turtle
Terrapene c. carolina
- Conservation
- WV State Wildlife Action Plan species of greatest conservation need; state rank S5; Priority 1 (2015 list)
When turtles are active in West Virginia
Records of turtles in West Virginia peak in April to June. They show when people record turtles, not how many there are (about month bars).
How to report
Report wildlife violations to any WVDNR district office or (844) 484-7367. Report sick or dead wildlife to a local district office. For nuisance wildlife, consult a WVDNR biologist or Natural Resources Police Officer, or hire a licensed Wildlife Damage Control Agent. For pest questions, WVDA Plant Industries Division: (304) 558-2212. No dedicated WVDNR invasive-species sighting line was found. WVDNR
About this list
The species list comes from Amphibians & Reptiles (Species Accounts: Turtles) (West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR), WordPress modified 2026-04-20).
Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.
Sources
- Wildlife Diseases in West Virginia. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). WordPress modified 2026-06-25; checked November 3, 2026.
- Amphibians & Reptiles. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). WordPress modified 2026-04-20; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“It is home to 36 salamander species, 24 snake species, 15 frog and toad species, 14 turtle species, and 6 lizard species.”
- West Virginia Reptile and Amphibian Regulations (summary). West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). 05/2023; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Citizens may report violations to any DNR district office or call (844) 484-7367.”
- GBIF.org occurrence records, human observations licensed CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0 only, accessed November 3, 2026. The datasets behind these counts are listed on our Sources page.