Family: Emydidae, Pond and Box Turtles view all from this family

Description Males, 3 1/2-5" (8.9-12.7 cm); females, 7-11 1/2" (17.8-29.2 cm). Carapace olive to dull green, with a black stripe down middle of vertebral scutes and spinelike projections on keel (except large females). Costal scutes bear reticulated pattern of black-bordered yellow-orange lines, while marginals have light bars or C-shaped markings. Plastron yellow with black-bordered scute seams; no spines on pectoral and abdominal scutes. Large yellow or greenish-yellow blotches behind eyes and patch atop head; blotches may be connected. Long stripes or bars from point of chin down throat. Adult females are much larger than males and develop greatly enlarged heads.

Breeding Nesting begins in late April, peaks in June, and continues through August. Lays up to 7 clutches, averaging 6-8, 1 1/2" (38 mm) elliptical eggs in a 6" (15 cm) deep, flask-shaped cavity dug on sandbars or banks. Incubation takes 10-11 weeks. Males mature in 4 years; females in 14.

Habitat Medium-sized creeks to large rivers with deep pools, sandbars, snags, and logjams and an abundance of mollusks.

Range Rivers draining into the Gulf of Mexico from the Yellow River system of Alabama and extreme w. Florida to the Pearl River system of e. Louisiana.

Discussion Basking turtles are extremely wary and difficult to approach. At night, they have been observed sleeping near their basking sites, clinging to submerged branches several inches below the water's surface.