Northwestern Pond Turtle
Actinmeys marmorata
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- A. marmorata – Mendocino Co, CA – photo by Gary Nafis
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- A. marmorata – Alameda Co, CA – photo by iNaturalist joseph-ca
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- A. marmorata – Alameda Co, CA – photo by iNaturalist mmarchiano
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- Map by Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Actinemys marmorata occurs in central to northern California, west of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. There is also an isolated population in the Truckee, Carson and East Walker Rivers in extreme western Nevada (Stebbins 2003). It is inconclusive if this Nevada population is natural or was introduced.
LEGAL STATUS: Actinemys marmorata is protected in California as a Species of Special Concern.
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Actinemys marmorata (Baird & Girard – 1852)
Genus: Actinemys, Greek – actin = a ray or beam + emys = a freshwater tortoise – pos. ref. to a sunny environment
Species: marmorata, Latin = marbled – ref. marbled carapace pattern
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jaeger 1962