Western Pond Turtle

Actinemys marmorata

California's only native freshwater turtle, a small olive-brown turtle that zoos help return to local ponds.

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About the Western Pond Turtle

Western pond turtles are 4.5 to 8.5 inches long with dark brown or olive shells and marbled patterns. They live in streams, lakes, ponds, rivers and wetlands from Washington State to Baja California, where they need land nearby for basking and nesting. They eat algae, water plants, insects, fish, crayfish and sometimes carrion.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Actinemys marmorata^[1]
Size: 4.5 to 8.5 inches long.^[1]
Lifespan: 40 to 70 years as adults.^[1]
Diet: Omnivore. Algae, water plants, invertebrates, fish, crayfish and carrion.^[1]
Habitat: Streams, lakes, ponds, rivers and wetlands with nearby land.^[1]
Where it lives: Washington State to Baja California.^[1]
Babies: Eggs hatch in about three months; hatchlings often overwinter underground.^[1]
Conservation status: Vulnerable (IUCN Red List, assessed 1996).^[2]

Fun facts

It's California's only native freshwater turtle.^[1]
SF Zoo has released young turtles into Mountain Lake in San Francisco.^[1]
Western pond turtles don't breed until they are 8 to 14 years old.^[1]

Vocabulary

freshwater: Water that is not salty, like in lakes and rivers.
bask: To lie in the sun to warm up.
invasive species: A living thing brought to a new place where it harms native species.
reintroduce: To return a species to a place where it used to live.
vulnerable: A conservation label meaning a species faces a high risk of dying out in the wild.

See it in person

San Francisco Zoo & GardensSan Francisco, California · ReptilesSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] San Francisco Zoo & Gardens. “Western pond turtle.” https://www.sfzoo.org/western-pond-turtle/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Emys marmorata (Western Pond Turtle).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/4969/97292542 (accessed 2026-10-02)