How do you tell if your turtle is an eastern painted turtle?

To identify an eastern painted turtle, look for its distinctive markings: a smooth, dark shell with bright orange or yellow stripes along the edges and on the head, neck, and legs. They typically have a flattened, oval shape and can grow up to 10 inches in length. Additionally, eastern painted turtles are commonly found in freshwater habitats like ponds and rivers in the eastern United States and Canada. Checking these characteristics will help confirm if your turtle is indeed an eastern painted turtle.