Turtles come in many different species with a variety of shell colors, patterns, and distinctive markings. When it comes to a turtle with yellow spots on its back, there are a few likely possibilities.
Eastern Box Turtle
The eastern box turtle is a common species found in the eastern part of the United States. It gets its name from its domed, box-like shell. The top shell, called the carapace, can come in a range of base colors from brown to black, and often has striking yellow, orange, or red markings. These vibrant markings usually take the form of streaks, blotches, or spots.
Eastern box turtles have a hinged plastron (bottom shell) that allows them to completely close up their shell when they feel threatened. Their head, legs, and tail can withdraw inside the closed shell for protection. This is where the “box” name comes from.
The yellow spots on the back of the eastern box turtle can vary greatly, but are often concentrated at the outer edges and seams of the carapace scutes (plates). They may be sparse, scattered, or abundant. These yellow spots stand out brightly against the darker shell base color.
Ornate Box Turtle
The ornate box turtle is similar in appearance and behavior to the eastern box turtle, but has a more westerly range. They inhabit prairie and desert landscapes in the central United States. Their top shell has a brown or black base color with yellow markings that often include spots or blotches.
Like the eastern box turtle, the ornate box turtle can withdraw completely into its shell when threatened. The yellow pattern on its shell provides camouflage by breaking up the turtle’s outline in the dappled light of prairie vegetation. This coloration enables the turtle to blend into its grassland habitat.
In addition to spots, the yellow patterning on an ornate box turtle’s shell may consist of striations, streaks, or a combination of markings. These are interspersed with the dark base color of the carapace.
Spotted Turtle
As its name implies, the spotted turtle has distinctive yellow spots covering its head, legs, shell, and tail. The spots occur on a black background. The spots vary in size and density across the turtle’s body. There are often about 20-40 yellow spots on the carapace alone.
Spotted turtles are relatively small, only growing to be about 5 inches long. They inhabit shallow wetlands from southern Canada down through the eastern United States. The striking coloration of spots on their shell helps provide camouflage in their swampy environments.
Of all the turtles that may have yellow spots, the appropriately named spotted turtle exhibits the most prolific spotting pattern. The vivid contrast makes their shell very distinctive.
Yellow-blotched Map Turtle
The yellow-blotched map turtle gets its name from the intricate yellow markings on its carapace. Their shell is olive green to brown, overlaid with an intricate network of yellow lines that can blend together to form blotches and irregular spots.
Yellow-blotched map turtles are found in rivers in the central United States, especially the Mississippi River system. Their complex shell pattern provides camouflage as they bask on fallen logs and riverbanks. When viewed from above, they blend into the dappled sunlight and leaf litter.
The blotchy yellow patterns on the yellow-blotched map turtle can sometimes be indistinct. But the overall impression is of an intricate, mottled network of yellow on a dark background. This resembles the complex contours of a map.
Cooter
Cooters are a group of pond and river turtles who often have yellow spotting on their shell. There are several different cooter species, but they share some common features. Their carapace is dark green to black, with a roughly oval shape. Cooters have large heads and webbed feet adapted for swimming.
The yellow markings on cooters’ shells vary depending on the age and species. Hatchlings tend to have single yellow spots placed symmetrically on each back scute. Juveniles and adults may have markings ranging from spots to stripes to blotches in more random arrangements.
So if you spot a pond turtle with yellow spots, it’s likely a juvenile cooter. The yellow spots help identify individual turtles when they’re young and their future adult shell patterns haven’t yet emerged.
Yellow Belly Slider
The yellow belly slider, also called the yellow-bellied slider, is a freshwater turtle that lives in the southern and central United States. They get their name from the broad yellow stripes and markings on their carapace as well as their yellow-colored belly and throat.
Yellow belly sliders spend a lot of time basking in the sun on rocks and logs. When basking, their most prominent features are the yellow stripes radiating from the center of the shell outward. These contrast sharply with the olive to brownish carapace.
In addition to stripes, yellow belly sliders often have yellow blotches around the outer edges of the top shell. These markings are highly variable, ranging from isolated dots to irregular spots and streaks overlaying the bolder stripes.
The extensive yellow markings distinguish the yellow belly slider from similar species in their range, like the red-eared slider which lacks yellow shell patterning.
Snapping Turtle
Though not always present, some snapping turtles can have yellow spots on their shell. Snapping turtles are large freshwater turtles with big heads and strong beaked jaws. They get their name from their aggressive nature and ability to snap with powerful force.
The carapace of a snapping turtle can be various shades from brown to green to black. Some individuals may have yellowish spots scattered across the central scutes of the shell. These are more common on younger turtles and fade as they age.
Given their formidable size and temperament, it’s not advisable to get close enough to a snapping turtle in the wild to inspect its shell for yellow spots! But some individuals can exhibit this coloration, especially when young.
Conclusion
There are a number of turtle species found in North America that can have yellow spots on their shells. Some of the most common and distinctive examples include the eastern box turtle, ornate box turtle, spotted turtle, yellow-blotched map turtle, cooters, the yellow belly slider, and sometimes even snapping turtles.
The yellow markings come in different forms like spots, blotches, stripes, and a mottled network or map-like pattern. These bright markings contrast sharply with the turtles’ darker base shell color. This coloration helps provide camouflage for the turtles in their natural habitats.
So if you come across a turtle with yellow spots on its back, inspect it closely for other identifying characteristics. This will help narrow down which specific species it likely is based on its size, shell shape, head and limbs. The vivid yellow pattern on its back can be a helpful clue to identifying different turtle types with this distinctive marking!
