Chelydridae is the reptile family of snapping turtles. Two species live in Indiana, the Eastern snapping turtle and alligator snapping turtle. These turtles have large beaks and are usually bigger than other turtle species. The alligator snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in the United States, weighing up to 250 lbs. They are named for their habit of snapping at any perceived threat. Eastern snapping turtles live in Indiana's lakes and ponds, while alligator snapping turtles are found at the bottom of deep rivers and lakes.
Mud and musk turtles belong to the Kinosternidae family of reptiles. Indiana is home to two Kinosternidae turtles, the Eastern mud and stinkpot. Eastern mud turtles immerse themselves in muddy habitats near river banks and lake shores. Stinkpot turtles emit a foul odor when threatened by predators or handled by humans. Both turtles are primarily aquatic species. The primary difference between the two is their shells; stinkpots have single-hinged plastron - the belly of the turtle's shell - and a mud turtle's plastron is double hinged.
Indiana is home to 10 turtles in the Emydidae family, which is made up of box turtles and water turtles. These turtles make Indiana's lakes and slow-moving rivers their primary habitats. Some of Indiana's water turtles are known as map turtles, including false map, common map, Ouachita map and painted turtles. Map turtles receive their name from the markings on their shell, which resemble the longitudinal and latitudinal lines of a map. Indiana's box turtles are the Eastern box and ornate box. Box turtles are the most common terrestrial turtles in the United States and may be identified by their highly domed shells, which allow them to hide in defense. Other Indiana Emydidae species are the red-eared slider, hieroglyphic river cooter, spotted turtle and Blanding's turtle.
Indiana's softshell turtles belong to the Trionychidae family. The smooth and spiny softshell turtles are the only two Trionychidae species in the Hoosier State. Smooth and spiny softshell turtles live in lakes and ponds throughout Indiana. Softshell turtles are able to breathe through their mouth and anus. Contrary to other turtles, softshell turtles have shells with leathery texture due to a lack of bones in the shell. Also, these turtles have cartilaginous plastrons. Both Indiana softshell turtles have round-shaped shells. Smooth softshell turtles have smooth shells, while spiny softshells have ridges on the edge of their shells.