small freshwater turtle (family Emydidae) found from southern Canada to the southern and central United States. The spotted turtle has a shell about 10 centimetres (4 inches) long. The upper shell is smooth, with round, bright-yellow or orange spots on a brown background; the lower shell is blackish, with orange or yellow markings.

The spotted turtle is a rather slow-moving reptile. It lives in shallow bodies of water, such as ponds, bogs, and ditches, and it commonly basks in groups in the sun.