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Eastern Musk Turtle vs. Pond Slider

The head marks: Eastern Musk Turtle — two pale stripes, above and below the eye; Pond Slider — a red or orange patch behind the eye. The underside: Eastern Musk Turtle — small, cross-shaped, lots of skin showing; Pond Slider — rigid, covering the underside. The shell pattern: Eastern Musk Turtle — plain, no pattern; Pond Slider — broad yellow bars or stripes on each plate or plain, no pattern (these overlap, so it only helps). The ridge on the shell: Eastern Musk Turtle — no ridge — smooth or one low, smooth ridge; Pond Slider — no ridge — smooth (these overlap, so it only helps).

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Eastern Musk Turtle

Sternotherus odoratus

Pond Slider

Trachemys scripta
Eastern Musk Turtle vs. Pond Slider: comparison sheet with the differences marked

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

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