Name:  Western Pond Turtle    (Clemmys marmorata) (Photo by Gerald and Buff Corsi © California Academy of Sciences)
Status:  Federal Species of Concern, State Endangered (WA), Sensitive Species (OR), Species of Concern (CA)
Listed:
Description:  Named for the marble pattern on its shell, this turtle ranges in color from dark brown to olive with radiating spots on its carapace.  Size: up to 7.5  inches.
Threats:  Habitat destruction, collection for pets.

Ecology:  The Western Pond Turtle rarely lives in ponds.  This is due to the fact that before the construction of farm ponds and reservoirs there were relatively few ponds in the western United States.  The turtle's habitat includes streams, large rivers, and slow-moving water.  They are most common in areas with large rocks and boulders, where they go to bask in the sun.  Although the turtles need to live around water bodies, they can survive drought in the more arid regions by digging into the mud in dried up riverbeds.  The Western Pond Turtle is an omnivore and a scavenger.  Its diet consists mainly of insects, including the larvae of caddisflies, dragonflies and nymphs.  Western Pond Turtles also eat small fish, frogs, and some plants.  Predators of adults include raccoons and coyotes.  Young Western Pond Turtles are preyed upon by a wider range of creatures, such as raptors, weasels, large fish species and bullfrogs (an introduced species).  Western Pond Turtles breed from mid to late spring.  Females deposit a clutch of up to 11 eggs in sand or loose soil, usually near a pond.   

Populations Trends and Possible Threats:
The Western Pond Turtle is one of only two native Washington turtle species.  Although large populations of Clemmys marmorata are found in northern California, the species has been extirpated from British Columbia and is near extinction in Washington State (Bury, 1986).
 

Current Distribution: The range of the Western Pond Turtle extends from southern British Columbia down through western Washington and Oregon and Northern California.  The largest populations are scattered from southern Oregon to California where they are well adapted to the arid climate.  The species is uncommon in the rest of its range, and is found at only three remaining sites in Washington State.  All three sites are in the Columbian Gorge and one site is due to a reintroduction project begun in 1999.  There are between 150 - 200 turtles at each site.  The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's Western Pond Turtle Project newsletter can be found on the web at http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/wlm/regions/reg5/frompond.htm. The goal of the recovery plan is to create four areas in Washington with populations of 200 or more turtles.

Click on map to Enlarge

There are no maps available for Oregon at this time.

References:

Bury, R. B. (1986).  Pacific Pond Turtle, Clemmys marmorata.  Tortuga Gazette. 22:3-5.

Schwenkmeyer, D. (1999). San Diego Natural History Museum Field Guide.  Online: http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/herps/clem-mar-html

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Western Pond Turtle Recovery Plan, 1999 website http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/wlm/diversty/soc/recovery/pondturt/wptxsum.htm

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Western Pond Turtle Recovery in the Columbia Gorge Province, website http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/wlm/regions/reg5/turtlerecovery_files/frame.htm

Last updated October 24, 2001