Turtles come in a variety of colors, including green, brown, red, yellow, and black. The most common turtle colors are green and brown. The color of a turtle’s shell helps it camouflage in its natural habitat.
The shell color depends on the species of turtle. Some turtles, like the green sea turtle and the Eastern box turtle, have the word “green” in their names because of their green shells. Other turtles, like the common snapping turtle and the redeared slider turtle, typically have brown or olive shells.
So are turtles green or brown? The short answer is that some species are green, some are brown, and others are different colors entirely. Read on to learn more about the common shell colors of different turtle species.
Green Turtles
Many turtle species have green shells that help them blend in with aquatic plants in the ocean or lakes. Here are some of the most common green turtles:
– Green sea turtle: As the name suggests, green sea turtles have greenish-colored shells. Their shells range from solid dark green to pale green or even brownish. These large turtles live in tropical and subtropical seas around the world.
– Eastern box turtle: Box turtles get their name from their highly domed, box-like shells. Eastern box turtles have bright green shells with yellow, brown, or black markings. They live in forests and meadows of the eastern United States.
– Wood turtle: Wood turtles have sculpted, ridged top shells that are olive to brownish green. Their belly shells (called plastrons) are strikingly orange-yellow with black markings. They inhabit rivers and streams in the northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada.
– Green tree frog: While not a true turtle, the green tree frog has green skin with small brown flecks. It spends time in trees and shrubs near water and is found throughout the southeastern United States.
Brown Turtles
Brown shell coloration is also very common in certain turtle species. Here are some turtles known for their brownish shells:
– Common snapping turtle: As the name suggests, this large freshwater turtle has a brown, olive, or tan carapace (top shell) with dark, jagged markings. Its plastron is beige or yellow. Snapping turtles are widespread throughout North America.
– Red-eared slider: Slider turtles are named for their ability to slide off rocks into the water. Wild red-eared sliders have olive green shells with a distinctive red patch behind each eye. Their plastrons are yellow with dark, irregular markings. Red-eared sliders live in ponds and streams and are popular as pets.
– Painted turtle: Appropriately named, painted turtles have olive to brown shells “painted” with red and yellow lines that form intricate patterns. Their plastrons are yellowish. Painted turtles inhabit slow-moving fresh waters across North America.
– Diamondback terrapin: Terrapins are small turtles that live in brackish coastal waters. Diamondback terrapins have diamond-shaped markings on their carapaces, which range from gray/black to brown in color. Their skin is gray with black flecks. Terrapins are native to the eastern and southern U.S. coasts.
Other Turtle Shell Colors
While green and brown are common, turtle shells come in diverse colors like red, orange, yellow, gray, and black:
– Red-eared slider (wild juveniles): Young red-eared sliders have green shells with bright red patches on both sides of the head. As they mature, their shells fade to olive green.
– Yellow-blotched map turtle: This aptly named turtle has an olive green shell with yellow spots or “blotches” outlined in black. It lives in the Mississippi River system in the central United States.
– Alligator snapping turtle: The alligator snapping turtle has a spiked, gray/brown carapace and a light plastron that gives it a primitive, prehistoric look. It inhabits river systems in the southeastern U.S.
– Eastern painted turtle (Southern subspecies): Southern painted turtles have olive shells with bright orange markings outlined in black. Their plastrons are dark gray or black. They live from Virginia to Georgia.
– Spiny softshell turtle: These turtles lack the hard, bony plates that most turtles have. Instead, their shells are leathery with a soft, spiny covering. Their shells are olive, brown, or gray with dark spots or lines. Softshells inhabit rivers, streams, and lakes in North America.
Why Do Turtle Shells Have Different Colors?
There are several reasons turtle species have evolved different shell colors:
– **Camouflage:** Shell color helps turtles blend into their environments to avoid predators. Green sea turtles and Eastern painted turtles match the greens and browns of their aquatic habitats. Wood turtles resemble fallen leaves on the forest floor.
– **Thermoregulation:** Light shells absorb less heat from the sun than dark shells. This may help some turtles, like diamondback terrapins, avoid overheating in sunny coastal areas.
– **Intra-species recognition:** Vibrant markings help turtles recognize others of the same species during mating. Male and female red-eared sliders can quickly spot each other thanks to their distinctive red ear patches.
– **Warning coloration:** Alligator snapping turtles have spiked, primitive-looking shells that may warn predators to stay away. Their gray/brown color matches the muddy river bottoms where they live.
Turtle Shell Colors By Species
Here is a summary of common turtle species and their typical shell colors:
| Turtle Species | Shell Color |
|---|---|
| Green sea turtle | Green with brown, black, or white markings |
| Eastern box turtle | Green with yellow, brown, or black markings |
| Wood turtle | Olive green to brownish green |
| Common snapping turtle | Brown, olive green, or tan |
| Red-eared slider turtle | Olive green |
| Painted turtle | Olive green or brown with red and yellow markings |
| Diamondback terrapin | Gray, brown, or black |
| Red-eared slider (juvenile) | Green with red patches |
| Yellow-blotched map turtle | Olive green with yellow blotches |
| Alligator snapping turtle | Gray or brown |
| Eastern painted turtle (southern subspecies) | Olive green or brown with orange markings |
| Spiny softshell turtle | Olive, brown, or gray |
Conclusion
In summary, there is no single answer to whether turtles are green or brown. Turtle shell color varies widely between different species. The most common colors are green, brown, and olive green. A turtle’s shell color helps it camouflage, regulate body temperature, recognize its own species, and warn off predators. Green sea turtles, Eastern box turtles, and red-eared sliders are examples of green turtles. Common snapping turtles, red-eared sliders, and painted turtles usually have brownish shells. But there are also brightly colored turtles and softshell turtles with leather-like coverings. Overall, turtle shell colors are diverse and help the turtles survive in their natural environments.
