Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassTestudines
- FamilyEmydidae (Pond and Box Turtles)
- GenusChrysemys (Painted Turtles)
- SpeciesChrysemys picta (Painted Turtle)
The painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) is the most widespread native turtle of North America. This turtle is a member of the genus Chrysemys, which is part of the pond turtle family Emydidae. Fossils show that the painted turtle existed 15 million years ago. Three regionally based subspecies (the eastern, midland, and western) evolved during the last ice age. The southern painted turtle (C. dorsalis) is alternately considered the only other species in Chrysemys, or another subspecies of C. picta. It lives in relatively slow-moving fresh waters, from southern Canada to northern Mexico, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Olympic National Park
📅 Monthly Probability
Fewer than 5 records of Painted Turtle at Olympic National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Point Pelee National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 2 | Voyageurs National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Isle Royale National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Badlands National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Riding Mountain National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 8 | Glacier National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Banff National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 10 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 11 | Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 12 | Olympic National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |