Turtle ID help

[Greebe]

Ornery is what I say about "Smiley" he's a 100lbs african spurthigh tortous at our wildlife center on Anna Maria Island. He destroys the pins, both inner and outer. Then sticks his nose in your business as you try to repair. Oh he'll get right in there and dig right next to you, just that he fills in what youve removed and covers you in dirt.

[Jammrock]

I don't know anymore if they found the turtle or got it from someone who got it at a pet store. All I know is it's old and ornery.

[Dr Mordrid]

Yes, turtles from most everywhere can hibernate. There's a local turtle keepers community and a contact there says ornate box turtles will winter over nicely under a pile of leaves, especially if there's snow cover. They prefer to let them hibernate outdoors to keeping them indoors.

[cjolley]

Turtles that are endemic to Central America? Usually animals can't survive to old age in a climate that's completely different from the one they evolved in.
I'm not criticizing, just curious if it was able to survive there outside during the winter.

[Dr Mordrid]

Turtles somehow manage to. Thats how we get 50-80 lb snappers.

[cjolley]

Does it overwinter outside in the northern US?

[Umfriend]

I don't think this is an endangered species so...hope you enjoy the soup!

[Jammrock]

I think the mystery is solved. It's a Central American ornate wood turtle. The turtle must have been imported, not local to the US North as I was told.

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reptiles/turtles/OrnateWoodTurtle.php

[cjolley]

It's not a Map Turtle. http://srelherp.uga.edu/turtles/grageo.htm

PS IMHO

[Jammrock]

My Dad thinks it's a map turtle. Or perhaps a painted/map mix? I contacted the original owners. Waiting to see if they can solve the mystery once and for all.

[Jammrock]

The shell is not smooth. I'll try to get a better picture.

The turtle does not have a trap door.

[cjolley]

Is the upper shell dark and smooth, without raised segments? If so possibly, but if it's lumpy not so much.

It's a pretty old turtle, so the smoothness factor might be less important.
It doesn't show up well in the photos, but there might be a pink or red tinge to the inside of the upper and lower shells. That's a Painted Turtle trait.
If it is a painted turtle it's almost certainly a Midland.

[Dr Mordrid]

Is the upper shell dark and smooth, without raised segments? If so possibly, but if it's lumpy not so much.

[SitFlyer]

I agree with cjolley.
Looks like it's a Midland Painted Turtle

[Dr Mordrid]

Correct. Wood turtles usually have either a solid colored head or a 2 tone paint job, darker on top. Painted turtles usually have a lower, smooth shell. Slider shells are usually higher and "lumpier." Around here we have to be careful because of a large population of Snappers. Big ones.