Reptiles of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

NC Records
Emydidae Members:
Deirochelys reticularia - Chicken Turtle

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia

Order: Testudines

Family: Emydidae

Subfamily: Deirochelyinae


Taxonomic Comments: Deirochelys is a monotypic species found solely in North America north of Mexico.
Species Comments: Three subspecies are currently recognized, of which only the nominate form, the Eastern Chicken Turtle, occurs in North Carolina

Identification

Basis for Records: A good-quality photograph of the carapace, head and forelegs should be sufficient to identify this species

Field Marks: The carapace is dark green of olive-brown with a yellow rim and a reticulated pattern of yellow to tan lines. The head and neck are striped with yellow and there is a broad yellow line on the foreleg. Both the front and rear of the body have a pattern of vertical yellow lines.

Morphological Features: The head and neck are extremely long, about equal to the length of the plastron. The wide first vertebral scute contacts four marginal scutes in addition to the cervical; in other Emydid, only 2 or 3 marginal scutes are contacted. The carapace is pear-shaped and lacks a keel and rear serrations. Females are larger than males. In North Carolina, the maximum recorded carapace length are: 8.7" (221 mm), females; 5.7" (145 mm), males (Palmer and Braswell, 1995). Males have a much longer and thicker tail, with the vent located distal to the rear margin of the carapace.

Technical Reference: Palmer and Braswell (1995); Ernst and Lovich (2009)

Field Guide Descriptions: Beane et al. (2010); Powell et al. (2016)

Online Photos: Google iNaturalist GBIF

Observation Methods: This habitat specialist is more rarely encountered than other pond turtles and can only be found in the vicinity of its ephemeral pool habitats when they are holding water, usually in late winter and spring.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution Comments: Chicken Turtles are restricted to the southern part of the Coastal Plain in North Carolina, an area with plentiful Carolina bays and other isolated, ephemeral pools. Other than one population at Nags Head Woods in Dare County, this species is absent from the barrier islands.
Distribution Reference: Palmer and Braswell (1995); NCMNS Herpetology Collection Database (accessed 2023-01)
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.

Key Habitat Requirements

Habitat: Chicken Turtles are particularly associated with cypress ponds, flooded Carolina bays in general, and other ephemeral bodies of water surrounded by Longleaf Pine-dominated habitats (Buhlman et al., 2009; Beane et al., 2010). Similar still water habitats are also used to some extent outside of Longleaf Pine ecosystems, but rivers and streams are not occupied (Palmer and Braswell, 1995).

Adaptations to Natural Disturbances: This species is highly adapted to the wet-dry cycle of ephemeral ponds, leaving the ponds as they dry out and aestivating in the surrounding non-wetland areas (Buhlman et al. 2009). They appear to be well-adapted to drought, surviving in some cases of up to two years in their aestivation sites (Ernst and Lovich, 2009).

Biotic Relationships: This species is primarily carnivorous, feeding mainly on aquatic insects, crustacea, and other invertebrates; some aquatic plants may also be eaten (Palmer and Braswell, 1995). Chicken Turtles are preyed upon by raccoons, otters, and alligators; their avoidance of riverine habitats and large permanent lakes may be due to their vulnerablity particularly to alligator predation in those sites.

Life History and Autecology

Reproductive Mode: Unlike other turtle species, Chicken Turtles lay their eggs in the fall and spring, with hatching taking place when the pools are most likely to be full (Buhlman et al., 2009). Retention of oviducal eggs appears to be adaptations for dealing with somewhat unpredictable habitat suitability, related to the filling of the ponds.

Aquatic Life History: Although capable of extensive movements on land, this species does not appear to forage terrestrially

Terrestrial Life History: Terrestrial activity is associated with egg-laying or seeking refuges for overwintering or aestivation when their ponds become dried out. Individuals can remain dormant in shallow burrows for periods of up to two years (Beane et al., 2010).

General Ecology

Adverse Environmental Impacts

Habitat Loss: Large numbers of Carolina Bays and other ephemeral pool habitats have been ditched and drained in the North Carolina Coastal Plain and converted to agricultural or silvicultural uses. Along with ephemeral-pool-breeding amphibians, Chicken Turtles undoubtedly suffered large population losses as a consequence.

Habitat Fragmentation: The extensive overland movements made by this species probably make it more vulnerable to road impacts than other aquatic turtles. Roadways, consequently, are a major source of habitat fragmentation for this species.

Effects of Pollution: The isolated nature of the ponds that are normally used limits the amount of pollutants that can reach them. However, Palmer and Braswell (1995) report that this species to be common in at least one sewage treatment pond.

Effects of Introduced Species/Induced Increases of Native Species: The Imported Red Fire Ant attacks the nest of this species (Buhlman and Coffman, 2001) and can also kill adults (Buhlmann and Gibbons, 2001).

Interactions with Humans: This species is eaten by humans, with the name of Chicken Turtle apparently based on how it tastes

Status in North Carolina

NHP State Rank: S2S3

Global Rank: G5

Status in North Carolina: SC

Status Comments: This species is considered to be of Special Concern in North Carolina (see WRC, accessed 2023-03), which gives it legal protection from take. More populations -- particularly metapopulations involving clusters of ephemeral ponds -- need to be brought into some form of protection.

Stewardship: As in the amphibians associated with ephemeral Coastal Plain ponds, conservation of this species requires both protection for the ponds but also the surrounding uplands, which are necessary for both hibernation, aestivation, and travel between ponds. Prescribed burns are necessary for maintaining the open characters of both the ponds and the uplands that this turtle needs for its survival.

Photo Gallery for Deirochelys reticularia - Chicken Turtle		7 photos are shown.
	Recorded by: Mark Shields Carteret Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Shields Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: C. Edwards, Mike Campbell and Jeff Hall New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: C. Edwards, Mike Campbell and Jeff Hall New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Shelley Helms Columbus Co. Comment:	Recorded by: J. Shimel, T. Taylor New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: J. Shimel, T. Taylor New Hanover Co. Comment:

Deirochelys reticularia - Chicken Turtle

Photo Gallery for Deirochelys reticularia - Chicken Turtle

7 photos are shown.