Pretty as a Painted Turtle

Scientific Name: Chrysemys picta

Habitat: found along the shore lines of ponds, marshes, small lakes, and sometimes slow water or back water areas of ditches, streams, and rivers*; they also look for logs and rocks for sunning during the day*

Diet: Painted turtles are omnivores, eating aquatic plants, worms, spiders, aquatic insects, crayfish, small fish, and small amphibians*

Coloration: distinct bright red and/or orange markings on the belly*; females typically have larger shells (as large as 9.8") than the males - the shells can range from 2"-just shy of 10"*

Mating: May-August; a female lays clutches (one or two in the northern range and up to 4 in the southern range) containing anywhere from 1-25 eggs. Females may skip a year and nest the next.*

Fun Facts: The painted turtle is the state reptile of Colorado (as of 2008) and they hibernate during the winter months and appear as early as February (southern range) to as late as May (northern range).*

Source:
*http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/ReptilesAndAmphibians/PaintedTurtle.htm