| Colorado's Turtles |
| by Lauren J. Livo |
| Evaluate the criteria below to identify a species. |
| 1a. | Shell flat and leathery, with row of raised tubercles. | Apalone spinifera Western Spiny softshell |
| 1b. | Shell not as above. | go to 2 |
| 2a. | Conspicuous yellow lines radiating on upper shell, primarily terrestrial. | Terrapene ornata Ornate box turtle |
| 2b. | Not as above. | go to 3 |
| 3a. | Upper shell mostly greenish, ventral surface orange or red, head with yellow streaks. | Chrysemys picta Painted turtle |
| 3b. | Not as above. | go to 4 |
| 4a. | Lower shell lacking hinge; upper shell mostly brownish with saw-toothed rear margin. | Chelydra serpentina Snapping turtle |
| 4b. | Lower shell with hinge; upper shell lacking saw-toothed rear margin. | Kinosternon flavescens Yellow mud turtle |