for
Chrysemys picta (Schneider) – Painted Turtle
and
Chrysemys dorsalis Agassiz – Southern Painted Turtle
Click on Map for Enlarged View Click for Photos of Both Species
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Legend
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Exact locality, based on specimen(s) or photographs examined |
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Exact locality, based on literature record believed valid |
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Approximate locality based on specimen(s) or photographs examined |
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Approximate locality based on literature record believed valid |
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County record only, based on specimens or photographs examined |
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County record only, based on literature report believed valid |
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Type locality |
| ? | Questionable and/or problematic record |
Taxonomy:
Bishop and Schmidt (1931) recognized four subspecies of
Chrysemys picta.
These included C. p. picta, C. p. belli,
C. p. dorsalis, and
C. p. marginata.
Ernst (1970) studied several morphological characters and provided a
discussion of the presence or genetic influence of three subspecies in Tennessee
and Kentucky. These included
C. p. picta,
C. p. dorsalis, and
C. p. marginata. The map
provided by Conant and Collins (1998) illustrates the distribution of all
subspecies in North America including the three subspecies reported in Tennessee
by Ernst (1970).
Based
on an analysis of mitochondrial DNA, Starkey et al. (2003) presented evidence
that C. dorsalis should be considered
a distinct species. Iverson et al.
(2012), listed C. dorsalis (Southern
Painted Turtle) and C. picta (Painted
Turtle) as separate species.
According to Iverson et al. (2012) no subspecies are recognized for
C. dorsalis and three subspecies are noted for
C. picta. These three
subspecies included C. p. belli
(Western Painted Turtle), C. p. marginata
(Midland Painted Turtle), and C. p. picta
(Eastern Painted Turtle).
In
summary, based on external morphology and molecular characteristics,
C. dorsalis and two subspecies of
C. picta (C. p. picta and
C. p. marginata) have been reported to
occur in Tennessee.
Distribution:
Results provided by Starkey et al. (2003) revealed
that the use of currently reported morphological characteristics may not allow
the identification of the subspecies of
C. picta, including the newly
elevated species, C. dorsalis. An
analysis of mitochondrial DNA is required.
Our examination of museum specimens and review of specimens documented in
the literature did not allow us to separate
C. picta from
C. dorsalis or the subspecies of
C. picta with an acceptable level of confidence.
In the
literature, there appears to be support indicating that the presence of a broad
mid-dorsal red stripe on the carapace is a characteristic that distinguishes
C. dorsalis.
Starkey et al. (2003) stated “the broad, red mid-dorsal stripe of
dorsalis provides one striking
morphological apomorphy for this species (Carr 1952) and
dorsalis is instantly recognizable
morphologically.”
Considering all of the above, we decided to present locality data for these two
species using two maps. One is a
composite map (see above) that includes all locality data for both species.
The other map
depicts only those museum- and literature-based localities where we were able to
determine if the specimen(s) possessed a broad mid-dorsal red stripe on their
carapace. Many museum specimens were
solely represented by skeletal remains and some literature sources did not
provide information on the mid-dorsal red stripe.
As a result, the second map is a small subset of the composite map and is
incomplete in terms of accounting for all specimens that possessed a broad
mid-dorsal red stripe. However, if
this characteristic proves to be useful in the identification
C. dorsalis, this map could be
considered a preliminary range map for the species in Tennessee.
Members of this species complex
probably occur statewide in Tennessee.
Verified localities are lacking for several north-central and
south-central counties. It appears
that specimens with a broad mid-dorsal red stripe are found mostly in West
Tennessee. In addition, specimens
with a narrow and nearly indistinct mid-dorsal red stripe were observed from
West Tennessee, especially the Reelfoot Lake area.
Museum Records by Counties: Anderson—UMMZ
218720-218724. Benton—CMNH 76065.
Blount—FLMNH 2244, 2246, 25470.
Bradley—TU 21437.
Carroll—USNM 85496.
Chester—APSU 19169.
Claiborne—CMNH 87383, 87384,
87387, 87389, 87390, 87393-87395, 87406, 87407.
Dickson—APSU 2234.
Greene—APSU
19142.
Hamblen—UMMZ 96265-96271.
Houston—APSU 6005.
Humphreys—APSU 4485; CMNH 28987.
Knox—UMMZ 74185; USNM
86685-86694, 86729, 86781, 86782; UTKVZC 4374, 4375.
Lake—APSU 12398, 12734, 12735;
CMNH 87241, 87242, 87244, 87248-87252, 87264, 87265, 87345-87355, 87360-87362,
87438-87440, 95430, 95431, 95460-95468, 95488-95509, 95537, 95538, 96121-96142,
101336-101383, 105117-105164, 108310, 108333-108344, 108347-108350,
108372-108377, 108402-108409, 108415, 108416, 108460-108462, 108473, 108474,
108707-108716, 150960; KU 156276; SIU R-1545, Uncataloged (1specimen); TTU 320,
444; TU 19859; UIMNH 1281-1290, 15783, 22616, 62368; USNM 100651, 100652; UTKVZC
6616, 6632-6635; UMMZ 84184.
Lauderdale—APSU 19411.
Madison—UMMZ 74147.
McMinn—FLMNH 2245, 2247;
SIU R-4021.
Monroe—FLMNH 22402-22404, 25471; USNM RH-81-146; UTKVZC 4791.
Montgomery—APSU 1400-1402, 2984,
3240, 3291, 3524, 5568, 17570, 18025.
Obion—APSU 3185, 3290; CMNH 95439,
95440, FLMNH 9721, 12973-1- 12973-5; KU 88815-88831, 91358, 91359; LSUMZ 34927;
MoSU R3653; UL 3980, 4123, 4124, 4210, 4211; UMMZ 53225, 53262, 70728,
74144-74146, 74621-74638, 99616, 218736, 218737; USNM 102906.
Rhea—FLMNH 2241-2243.
Shelby—APSU 16498, 16499.
Stewart—APSU 711, 5472, 5479.
Van Buren—APSU 18957.
Weakley—APSU 19444.
Literature Sources by Counties: Anderson—Meyers-Schöne
and Walton (1990),
Meyers-Schöne et al. (1993),
Starkey et al. (2003),
Jensen et al. (2015).
Bledsoe—Thawley (2013a).
Blount—King (1939), Johnson (1954), Huheey and Stupka (1967),
Ernst (1970), Tilley and Huheey
(2001), Starkey et al. (2003).
Campbell—Ernst (1970).
Carroll—Ernst (1970).
Cheatham—Ernst (1970).
Chester—McReynolds and Butterfield (2012).
Davidson—Hopkins (1990).
Decatur—Ernst (1970).
DeKalb—Ernst (1970).
Dyer—Ernst (1970).
Gibson—Miller (1995a).
Grainger—Ernst (1970).
Greene—Daniels
et al. (2012).
Hamblen—Gentry (1956), Hutchinson et al. (1966), Ernst (1970).
Hamilton—Ernst (1970).
Hardeman—Norton (1971), Norton and
Harvey (1975).
Hawkins—Alsop
(1975).
Haywood—Stanley (2005).
Henry—Ernst (1970).
Humphreys—Gentry (1956), Ernst
(1970).
Jefferson—Rodgers and
Schreiber (1958).
Knox—Ernst (1970).
Lake—Parker (1937a), Ernst (1970),
Moll (1973), Collins et al. (1997), Glorioso and Niemiller (2006), Jaeger
(2008).
Lauderdale—Flaherty
et al. (2013c).
Madison—Ernst (1970).
McMinn—Johnson (1954),
Ernst (1970).
Monroe—Johnson (1958),
Ernst (1970).
Montgomery—Scott (1967),
Scott and Snyder (1968), Ernst (1970), Fitch (1998).
Obion—Parker (1937a), Ernst
(1970), Bull et al. (1982), Collins, et al. (1997), Starkey et al. (2003).
Rhea—Johnson (1954), Ernst (1970).
Roane—Krumholz (1954),
Johnson (1964), Meyers-Schöne and Walton (1990),
Meyers-Schöne et al. (1993).
Rutherford—Edney (1949).
Shelby—Justis (2006).
Stewart—Ernst (1970), Scott
(1990).
Unicoi—Campbell (2013c).
Warren—Ernst (1970).
Weakley—Flaherty et al. (2014a).
White—Ernst (1970).
Questionable and/or Erroneous Records:
None.
Conservation Status: None.
Posted: 7 August 2012
Latest Revision: 24 August 2015
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