Colorado State Reptile: Facts and Corrections

The Colorado state reptile is the Western Painted Turtle. This turtle is native to the state and can be found in its freshwater habitats.

The Western Painted Turtle is a relatively small species, reaching lengths of up to 5 inches. Its shell is a beautiful mottled brown and yellow color.

In Colorado, the Western Painted Turtle is listed as a species of special concern due to habitat loss and degradation.

Suggestion: Common Snapping Turtle Species

The western painted turtle is a pretty cool creature. It was named Colorado's official state reptile by the General Assembly in 2008.

This turtle gets its name from bright red and/or orange markings on its underbelly. It's also identifiable by the bright yellow lines on its neck, head, and limbs.

The western painted turtle can range in size from 2 inches to just under 10 inches. Females have shells that are typically larger than males of the species.

In the winter months, these turtles enter a period of hibernation. They can emerge as early as February in the southern part of their range and as late as May in the north.

The list of official state reptiles is quite extensive, and it's easy to get confused about what's actually recognized by the states. For instance, the Arizona ridge-nosed rattler is officially recognized as the state reptile of Arizona.

The list includes four different rattlesnakes, which might be surprising given their venomous reputation. The prairie rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake, and massasauga are all represented on the list.

Some reptiles are more common than others, like the green anole, which is recognized as the state reptile of Arkansas. However, others are more unique, like the leatherback sea turtle, which is recognized as the state reptile of Alaska.

Here's a breakdown of the different types of reptiles represented on the list:

I was surprised to see that both crocodilians native to the U.S. are represented on the list, including the American alligator and the American crocodile.