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Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata)
Above and below: A Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) in Garrett Co., Maryland (6/1/2008). Unlike Maryland's more widespread Eastern Painted (C. p. picta), the scutes on the carapace (plates on the upper shell) are staggered rather than even with one another across its shell. The plastron (underside) is variable, often showing dark splotches but sometimes all dark as in this individual.
Below: Compare the scute pattern on this Eastern subspecies individual photographed along the C&O Canal (4/2008).
Below: A Painted Turtle at North Branch, Allegany Co., Maryland (7/24/2010) - Midland subspecies or a Midland/Eastern intergrade?
