Can anyone identify a little turtle I found in an outdoor pond? It is brown and has points all around the edge

Question

The shell appears rougher than a slider's shell. It is about 1 1/2 inch in size. The point around the edge have a light yellow dot on them.

Answer 1

eww, get rid of it, its a snapping turtle, they will hiss as you and will bite you and wont let go. when they are bigger they can snap a finger off at the age its now it could easily hurt a child. take it to a water source far away from your house and let it out. snappers are nasty

Answer 2

It could be a number of different kinds of turtle. Whats the coloring? What state did you find it in? It sounds like either a map turtle, Snapping turtle, or Alligator Snapping Turtle. Good Luck. Hope this Helps.

http://www.rowanpix.com/herps/images/map_turtle.jpg

http://www.hiltonpond.org/images/TurtleSnappingHatchling02.jpg

http://reticsfreak.blogs.friendster.com/photos/gallery/foto62.jpg

Answer 3

My guesses:

Map turtle (There are many kinds- this is a Mississippi Map): http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/world_of_turtles/Mississippi_Map_Turtles_-_Graptemys_pseudogeographica_kohnii/index.html

or, more likely for many reasons-

Common Snapping turtle: http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/world_of_turtles/Common_Snapping_Turtles_-_Chelydra_serpentina/index.html

Now, just FYI: Please do not try to make it a pet, in either case. For one thing, it is illegal to catch wild turtles in most states without a permit or license (often a fishing permit of some type). For another, baby wild-caught turtles make poor pets- the stress of being caught and captivity messes them up and it is hard for the average person to get them happy again.

If it is something that interests you, both Maps and Snappers make good pets if captive bred and well cared for. You can find care sheets for both at http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheets.htm

Answer 4

Sounds like a baby snapping turtle.

Answer 5

possibly a snapper if there are points to the shell... but they sometimes have red/ orange among their face
Most box turtles are smooth shelled-- but could be something like Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata).
Does he seem aggressive and does he have yellow among his face?

Here a pic of a baby snapper (aka snapping turtle) for ya:
http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/coastline/images/big/line2353.jpg

Answer 6

sounds like a baby snapper.... I would put it back where you found it as there is probably more...and its not a domestic pet....smile...good luck

Answer 7

It could be a baby sanper