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Eastern Musk Turtle vs. Spotted Turtle

The shell pattern: Eastern Musk Turtle — plain, no pattern; Spotted Turtle — round yellow spots on black. The head marks: Eastern Musk Turtle — two pale stripes, above and below the eye; Spotted Turtle — yellow or orange spots. The underside: Eastern Musk Turtle — small, cross-shaped, lots of skin showing; Spotted Turtle — rigid, covering the underside. The ridge on the shell: Eastern Musk Turtle — no ridge — smooth or one low, smooth ridge; Spotted Turtle — no ridge — smooth (these overlap, so it only helps).

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Eastern Musk Turtle

Sternotherus odoratus

Spotted Turtle

Clemmys guttata
Eastern Musk Turtle vs. Spotted 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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