Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A friend just brought me a baby turtle that she found in her swimming pool. The little guy is only slightly larger than a quarter, with a slightly domed shell. More flat than domed, but some height to it. Running anterior/posterior along the shell is a ridge of 3-4 scales that are quite raised. The tail seems long for the turtle's size, and thin. The color is not extraordinary, a dark olive gray color, uniform throughout shell and body. The undershell has lighter colored edges, the area around the beak is also this lighter color. Feet have four developed claws on each front and 3 developed and 1 undeveloped claw each on back, but no apparent webbing. The eyes are quite large and look similar to a very young (

well your description is a good start but a picture and info on where (in the world) this turtle was found are probably necessary. Many baby turtles have a keel and many have color patterns that change considerably as they age so its hard to id this one based on a description. Tell us where you found it and we can point you to a gallery of photos of turtles from that area.

The turtle was found in Southeast Louisiana, north of Lake Pontchartrain (and New Orleans) in St. Tammany Parish. I hope to connect my digital camera to my computer this week so I will post a picture then. Thanks

Laura

the only turtle I've seen with an extra long tail compared to it's body is a snapping turtle. With the spikes along the back it very well could be an aligator snapping turtle. I'm not sure if they are native to louisana just from the description that's what it sounds like.

yeah both the common snapper and the alligator snapper as hatchlings fit the dexcription. Louisiana probably has more ally snappers than any other place in the world.

I assume by now she has found one of those "herps of louisiana" pages and figured it out.