What Are Common Species of Turtles Around the World?

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Learn about the characteristics of different types of turtles

Co-authored by Samantha Fulton, BA

Last Updated: August 11, 2026 Fact Checked

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Sea Turtles

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Pet Turtles

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Freshwater Turtles

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Land Turtles

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Turtles have been roaming the earth for over 250 million years, which makes them older than dinosaurs! There are over 300 turtle species, and in this article, we’ll be covering some of the most interesting ones. Turtles and tortoises, while part of the same species, are slightly different—turtles are mainly aquatic creatures and tortoises dwell mainly on the land. We'll discuss both below. Whether you’re curious about sea turtles or you want the perfect pet turtle, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn all about some of the coolest types of turtles!

What are the different species of turtles?

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An illustration depicting common types of turtles from different habitats.

There are over 300 species of turtles, but some common species include the leatherback sea turtle, eastern box turtle, red-eared slider, and gopher tortoise. Turtles can live in the sea, in freshwater, or on land. Here are more turtle species from different habitats:

Sea turtles: Green sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle
Freshwater turtles: Common snapping turtle, spiny softshell turtle
Land turtles: Ornate box turtle, African spurred tortoise

Section 1 of 4:

All 7 Types of Sea Turtles

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Leatherback Sea Turtle The leatherback sea turtle is the largest turtle in the world. They’re named for their tough, rubbery skin and have been around since the age of the dinosaurs. They’re migratory, and some of them swim over 10,000 miles (16,093 km) per year!^{[1]
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- How big are they? 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters)
- Where do they live? Alaska, New England/Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Islands, Southeast, West Coast
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Green Sea Turtle Green sea turtles are the largest hard-shelled sea turtles. They’re mainly herbivorous and enjoy munching on seagrass and algae. They migrate hundreds of miles between foraging grounds and nesting beaches.^{[2]
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- How big are they? 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters)
- Where do they live? New England/Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Islands, Southeast, West Coast
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Hawksbill Sea Turtles Hawksbill sea turtles have unique beak-like mouths that help them find food sources in hard-to-reach places. They survive and thrive on a diet that consists mainly of sea sponges and are omnivorous. Like other sea turtles, hawksbill turtles are a migratory species.^{[3]
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- How big are they? 2 to 3.5 feet (0.6 to 1.1 meters)
- Where do they live? Pacific Islands, Southeast
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Loggerhead Sea Turtle Loggerhead turtles are the most abundant sea turtle species in the United States. They have strong, powerful jaws and a large head. Loggerheads use their strong jaws to feed on hard-shelled prey like whelks and conchs. They’re carnivores, but they occasionally consume plant material.^{[4]
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- How big are they? 2.5 to 3.5 feet (0.8 to 1.1 meters)
- Where do they live? New England/Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Islands, Southeast, West Coast
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Olive Ridley Sea Turtle The olive ridley is one of the smallest but most widespread and abundant of the world’s sea turtles. They’re omnivorous and enjoy a diet of algae, crustaceans, tunicates, and mollusks. Olive ridleys partake in solitary and mass nesting and are migratory turtles.^{[5]
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- How big are they? 2 to 2.5 feet (0.6 to 0.8 meters)
- Where do they live? Pacific Islands, Southeast, West Coast
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Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are the smallest sea turtle in the world. They’re named after the fisherman, Richard M. Kemp, who first submitted the species for identification in 1906. They engage in mass nesting and are a migratory species. They feed on small animals and plants.^{[6]
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- How big are they? 2 feet (0.6 meters)
- Where do they live? New England/Mid-Atlantic, Southeast
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Flatback Sea Turtle The flatback sea turtle are a rather mysterious species because of their remote nesting habits. They feed on jellyfish, sea cucumbers and mollusks. Unlike other sea turtles, flatback sea turtles don’t undertake long migrations, sticking instead to the brief trip between their coastal nests and foraging grounds.^{[7]
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- How big are they? 2.5 to 3.5 feet (0.8 to 1.1 meters)
- Where do they live? Pacific near Australia and Papua New Guinea

Section 2 of 4:

Best Pet Turtles

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Eastern Box Turtle Eastern box turtles enjoy moist habitats and should have access to both shade and sunshine. They are omnivorous and like to munch on high-protein foods like crayfish, mealworms, and millipedes. Eastern box turtles are illegal to keep as pets in some parts of the U.S., so make sure you check your state laws before bringing one of these little guys home!^{[8]
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- Size: 4.5 to 8 inches (11 to 20 cm)
- Lifespan: 40+ years
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Musk Turtle Musk turtles come from North America and can be found in rivers and ponds in Eastern states (but go to a pet store if you want to take one home). They need to be able to submerge themselves fully under water. They are omnivorous and eat a range of aquatic foods, including meat products.^{[9]
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- Size: 5.5 inches (14 cm)
- Lifespan: 15 years
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Mississippi Map Turtle Mississippi map turtles can be found up and down the Mississippi River and its tributaries. They’re named for the patterns on their skin, which look like a topographical map. They are omnivorous. If you want one as a pet, remember these turtles need enough space to swim, as well as room outside the water to bask.^{[10]
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- Size: 10 inches (25.4 cm)
- Lifespan: 30 years
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Painted Turtle In the wild, painted turtles dwell in ponds, lakes, swamps, and slow-flowing rivers throughout North America. So, if you’re planning on bringing one home from the pet store, they need spacious semi-aquatic enclosures. These are challenging but rewarding pets and likely aren’t suitable for first-time owners. Like many other turtles, they are omnivorous.^{[11]
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- Size: 5 to 10 inches (12.7 to 25.4 cm)
- Lifespan: up to 40 years
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Red-Eared Slider Red-eared sliders originate in North America and are primarily aquatic turtles, though they also love to bask on rocks and logs. They’re slow-growing but ultimately get quite large, so if you’re headed to the pet store, be sure to keep habitat accommodations in mind. Red-eared sliders are omnivorous.^{[12]
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- Size: 6 to 12 inches (15.24 to 30.48 cm)
- Lifespan: 20 to 30+ years

Section 3 of 4:

Common Freshwater Turtles

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Common Snapping Turtle Common snapping turtles are hefty reptiles that can weigh up to 45 pounds (16 kg)! They make their homes in ponds, lakes, marshes, rivers, and creeks and have very few predators as adults. They enjoy a diet of carrion, aquatic invertebrates, small animals, and aquatic plants.^{[13]
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- How big are they? 10 to 20 inches (25.4 to 50.8 cm)
- Where do they live? North America
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Spiny Softshell Turtle The spiny softshell turtle is one of the biggest freshwater turtle species in North America. These turtles are easy to spot because of their soft, flat, rubbery shells. They’ll eat just about anything they find in the water, such as crayfish, insects, and occasionally fish. Spiny softshell turtles spend about half the year hibernating in the mud.^{[14]
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- How big are they? 11 to 21 inches (28 to 54 cm)
- Where do they live? Throughout most of the United States
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Spotted Turtle These small, aquatic turtles are named for their yellow polka dots. They favor shallow, aquatic areas with lots of vegetation. Spotted turtles enjoy a diet of other animals, including worms and frogs— but they’ll also chow down on some aquatic vegetation. They spend the winter months at the bottom of muddy wetlands living without food and little oxygen.^{[15]
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- How big are they? 3.4 to 4.5 inches (9 to 11.5 cm)
- Where do they live? East coast of the United States and the Great Lakes region
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Alligator Snapping Turtle Alligator snapping turtles are large, dinosaur-like reptiles. These turtles are almost exclusively aquatic and can go 50 minutes before they need to surface for a gulp of air. They stay submerged for such long stretches that they grow algae on their shells! These turtles lure fish with their specially adapted tongue that acts as bait.^{[16]
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- How big are they? Up to 29 inches (74 cm)
- Where do they live? United States, from northern Florida to eastern Texas and up to Iowa
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River Cooter The river cooter is a large turtle with a striped head. They live in backwaters and oxbow lakes of large rivers and reservoirs. As adults, river cooters are almost exclusively herbivorous, but they’re omnivorous when they’re young.^{[17]
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- How big are they? 9 to 16 inches (23 to 42 cm)
- Where do they live? Central and southeastern United States

Section 4 of 4:

Land Turtles & Tortoises

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Gopher Tortoise The gopher tortoise is a moderate-sized land turtle. They can live 40 to 60 years in the wild and are named for their burrowing tendencies. They’re herbivorous and tend to forage near their burrows. Some of their favorite foods include low-growing plants like wiregrass, broadleaf grasses, and legumes.^{[18]
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- How big are they? 9 to 11 inches (22.9 to 27.9 cm)
- Where do they live? Southeastern United States
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Russian Tortoise Russian tortoises are long-lived reptiles that can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and living conditions. They like to make their homes in arid grasslands and savannas. Russian tortoises enjoy a herbivorous diet of grasses, weeds, and succulents. They hibernate in the cold months and are able to conserve energy and water during extreme heat.^{[19]
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- How big are they? 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 cm)
- Where do they live? Central Asia
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African Spurred Tortoise These tortoises can live 80 to 100 years! They are curious and intelligent reptiles, with lively personalities. They dig dens up to 10 feet (3 meters) deep to escape the heat in their native climates. Like other tortoises, they eat a herbivorous diet—some of their favorite snacks include grasses, flowers, weeds, and cacti.^{[20]
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- How big are they? 20 to 30 inches (50 to 76 cm)
- Where do they live? Sahara Desert and the Sahel
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Ornate Box Turtle The ornate box turtle is a small, land-dwelling turtle. They are a prairie species and live where there’s a mix of prairie grasses and forbs. You can also spot them in open woodlands, rocky glades, and farm fields. Ornate box turtles love to munch on insects, including grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and caterpillars.^{[21]
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- How big are they? 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm)
- Where do they live? Central United States and northern Mexico
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Wood Turtle While wood turtles aren’t exclusively terrestrial or aquatic, they spend much of their lives on land. They use habitats like floodplains, meadows, woodlands, fields, and wetlands. These turtles can live up to 60 years. They enjoy a diet of insects, slugs, earthworms, and wild berries.^{[22]
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- How big are they? 5 to 9 inches (13 to 23 cm)
- Where do they live? North America