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Eastern Musk Turtle vs. Painted Turtle

The shell pattern: Eastern Musk Turtle — plain, no pattern; Painted Turtle — red marks around the edge, otherwise plain. The head marks: Eastern Musk Turtle — two pale stripes, above and below the eye; Painted Turtle — several yellow stripes, no patch. The underside: Eastern Musk Turtle — small, cross-shaped, lots of skin showing; Painted Turtle — rigid, covering the underside. The shell height: Eastern Musk Turtle — high and domed, like a helmet; Painted Turtle — low and fairly flat.

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Eastern Musk Turtle

Sternotherus odoratus

Painted Turtle

Chrysemys picta
Eastern Musk Turtle vs. Painted Turtle: comparison sheet with the differences marked

Photographs via iNaturalist under Creative Commons licences; the photographers are credited on the sheet.

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