History

The midland painted turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) is of the order: Testudines, class: Reptilia and family: Emydidae.² Fossils show that the painted turtle existed 15 million years ago. As shown in Figure 1, these ectotherms are found in the region from southern Quebec, to northern Georgia, Alabama.³ Members of the Emydidae family inhabit slow-moving, shallow waters of small ponds, rivers and lakes.⁴ The midland painted turtles tend to be carnivorous when they're young, and become opportunistic omnivores by adulthood.³

Figure 1. Distribution of the subspecies of Chrysemys picta, Handbook of turtles (pp.215)⁵          

Female painted turtles reach sexual maturity at 8-15 years; males at 6-9 years.³ In late May to early June, they will dig a shallow nest in sandy or loose soil, and 5-20 eggs are laid. Some turtles lay more than one clutch but it depends on the climate and the individual turtle conditions.³ Young turtles hatch in the fall but usually do not emerge from their nest until the following spring.³ Eggs that are incubated over 30 degrees C produce all females, and eggs kept at lower temperatures yield more males. Hatchlings can tolerate being frozen as low as -11 degrees C.³ 

Adult females are full grown at 4-10inches, and can weigh anywhere from 500-1500g, males are slightly smaller at 3-6 inches weighing approximately 300-800g.⁶ In order to be functional and properly digest food, they must have an internal temperature of at least 20 ^oC and the water must be at least 15 ^oC.⁷ Painted turtles in the inhabiting the northern part of their range can live to 100 years old.⁷