---
title: "Painted Wood Turtle"
description: "Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima — Reptiles. The ornate or painted wood turtle (Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima) is one of nine turtle species of the genus Rhinoclemmys of the family Geoemydidae."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/painted-wood-turtle
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Painted Wood Turtle

> Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima — Reptiles. The ornate or painted wood turtle  (Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima) is one of nine turtle species of the genus Rhinoclemmys of the family Geoemydidae.

- Scientific name: *Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima*
- Category: `reptiles` (Reptiles)
- Habitats: `forest` (Forest), `freshwater` (Lakes & rivers)
- iNaturalist observations: 1400
- Wikidata: [Q2107325](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2107325)
- iNaturalist taxon: [39932](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/39932)

## Names

- en: Painted Wood Turtle
- de: Pracht-Erdschildkröte
- es: Tortuga de monte pintada
- nl: Sieraardschildpad

## Countries with the most observations

MX (424), CR (312), HN (140), SV (132), NI (69), GT (42)

## Summary

The ornate or painted wood turtle  (Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima) is one of nine turtle species of the genus Rhinoclemmys of the family Geoemydidae. There are four recognized subspecies.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painted_wood_turtle

## Photo

![Painted Wood Turtle](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/painted-wood-turtle/medium.jpg)

Photo: Sinaloa Silvestre · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/245150697

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/painted-wood-turtle?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).