Length: 6-8 inches.                                                

Color: Brownish-blackish.

Habitat: Forests and meadows with rivers in them.

Range: Nova Scotia to Minnesota to Iowa to Virginia to New York.

Where in CT?: Most common on the coast and in eastern CT.

Diet: Insects, mollusks, carrion, worms, blackberries, dandelions, mullen, sorrel, strawberries, grasses, sedges, filamentous algae, and mushrooms.

Notes: They are endangered.  They are land turtles (tortoises) but go in vernal pools to lay their eggs.