Types of Turtles With Red Spots on the Face

The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta) inhabits ponds, marshes and other still waters throughout much of the south-central United States, from the Great Lakes region to southern Texas, east to northern Florida, and north to West Virginia. Red-eared sliders have a wide red or orange stripe behind each eye. Adults range in size from 5 to 11 inches. They're often found basking with other sliders -- sometimes on top of each other.

The Big Bend slider (Trachemys gaigeae) is very similar to the red-eared slider. In fact, some consider it a subspecies. This turtle is only found in the Rio Grande and Conchos River valleys of Texas and New Mexico. Unlike the red-eared slider, the Big Bend slider prefers fast-moving water. It has an orange or reddish dot bordered by black behind its eye.

Box turtles live on land -- often near water -- in the eastern United States. Of the four subspecies of box turtles, the three-toed box turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis) is the only one with red on its head. The male's head can be completely red. Other males and females will have red, orange or yellow spots on their head. Box turtles range in size from 4 to 7 inches.

Some turtles have orange head markings that might appear red from a distance. The Texas map turtle (Graptemys versa), found only in central west Texas, has a curved orange stripe just behind its eye. The bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) -- a small turtle in the eastern states -- has a large orange or yellow spot on her neck.