Turtles are calm and gentle animals known for their hard shells and slow, steady movements. They live in many different places, such as oceans, rivers, lakes, and even on land, and each type has its own special features and habits. In this article, you will learn different types of turtle breeds with their names in English and clear pictures, so you can easily recognize and learn about each one. This simple guide is helpful for students, teachers, and animal lovers who want to build strong vocabulary while discovering more about these amazing creatures.
List of Turtle Breeds with Name in English
- Green sea turtle
- Loggerhead turtle
- Hawksbill turtle
- Leatherback turtle
- Olive ridley turtle
- Kemp’s ridley turtle
- Flatback turtle
- Painted turtle
- Snapping turtle
- Alligator snapping turtle
- Box turtle
- Wood turtle
- Spotted turtle
- Blanding’s turtle
- Map turtle
- Musk turtle
- Mud turtle
- Diamondback terrapin
- Red-eared slider
- Yellow-bellied slider
20 Types of Turtles Breeds with Names with their Pictures
- Green sea turtle
A large sea turtle found in tropical oceans, known for its plant-based diet as an adult, smooth shell, long migrations, and importance to healthy seagrass ecosystems.
- Loggerhead turtle
A strong sea turtle with a large head and powerful jaws, feeding mainly on hard-shelled prey, commonly found in warm oceans and nesting on sandy beaches.
- Hawksbill turtle
A critically endangered sea turtle recognized by its pointed beak and patterned shell, feeding on sponges and playing a vital role in maintaining healthy coral reefs.
- Leatherback turtle
The largest living turtle, lacking a hard shell, with leathery skin, adapted for deep, cold oceans and feeding mainly on jellyfish across vast distances.
- Olive ridley turtle
A small sea turtle known for mass nesting events called arribadas, found in warm oceans and feeding on crustaceans, mollusks, and marine plants.
- Kemp’s ridley turtle
The rarest sea turtle species, mainly found in the Gulf of Mexico, known for synchronized nesting and feeding primarily on crabs.
- Flatback turtle
A sea turtle native to Australian waters, identified by its flat shell, limited migration range, and preference for coastal habitats and shallow seas.
- Painted turtle
A colorful freshwater turtle with red and yellow markings, commonly found in ponds and lakes, known for basking behavior and adaptability to various environments.
- Snapping turtle
A large freshwater turtle with a strong bite, rough shell, and aggressive defense behavior, commonly found in rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
- Alligator snapping turtle
A massive freshwater turtle with a spiked shell and powerful jaws, using a lure-like tongue to attract prey in slow-moving southern waters.
- Box turtle
A land-dwelling turtle with a domed shell and hinged plastron, allowing complete closure for protection, commonly found in forests and grasslands.
- Wood turtle
A semi-terrestrial turtle found near streams and forests, recognized by its sculpted shell and active behavior on land.
- Spotted turtle
A small freshwater turtle with bright yellow spots on a dark shell, living in shallow wetlands and slow-moving waters.
- Blanding’s turtle
A freshwater turtle with a bright yellow throat and domed shell, known for its long lifespan and preference for clean wetlands.
- Map turtle
A freshwater turtle with map-like patterns on its shell, commonly found in rivers, feeding on aquatic insects and mollusks.
- Musk turtle
A small freshwater turtle known for releasing a musky odor when threatened, living in slow-moving waters and feeding on small aquatic animals.
- Mud turtle
A small, bottom-dwelling freshwater turtle with a smooth shell, commonly found in muddy ponds and streams.
- Diamondback terrapin
A coastal turtle living in brackish marshes, recognized by its diamond-patterned shell and tolerance for changing salt levels.
- Red-eared slider
A popular freshwater turtle with red patches behind the eyes, adaptable, active, and commonly found in ponds and lakes worldwide.
- Yellow-bellied slider
A freshwater turtle with a yellow underside and striped markings, known for basking behavior and living in calm, warm waters.
20 Types of Turtles with Names with their Pictures
Type of Turtle Breeds with Names list
- River cooter
- Pond turtle
- Softshell turtle
- Spiny softshell turtle
- Smooth softshell turtle
- African sideneck turtle
- Asian box turtle
- Chinese softshell turtle
- Indian flapshell turtle
- Matamata turtle
- Pig-nosed turtle
- Snake-necked turtle
- Fly River turtle
- Reeves’ turtle
- Russian tortoise
- Greek tortoise
- Hermann’s tortoise
- Sulcata tortoise
- Leopard tortoise
- Red-footed tortoise
Common Types of Turtles Breeds with their Names and images
- River cooter
A large freshwater turtle found in rivers and lakes of North America, known for its smooth shell, strong swimming ability, and mostly plant-based diet.
- Pond turtle
A general term for freshwater turtles living in ponds and slow waters, adapted for swimming, basking, and feeding on plants, insects, and small aquatic animals.
- Softshell turtle
A freshwater turtle with a flat, leathery shell instead of a hard one, known for fast swimming, buried hiding behavior, and feeding on fish and insects.
- Spiny softshell turtle
A softshell turtle identified by small spines near the shell edge, commonly found in rivers and lakes, feeding on insects, fish, and crustaceans.
- Smooth softshell turtle
A softshell turtle with a smooth shell lacking spines, living in clean rivers and streams, known for excellent swimming and quick burying in sand. 
- African sideneck turtle
A freshwater turtle that bends its neck sideways to hide its head, native to Africa, living in rivers and ponds, feeding on plants and small animals.
- Asian box turtle
A semi-aquatic turtle with a hinged shell allowing closure, native to Asia, living in forests and wetlands, feeding on fruits, insects, and plants.
- Chinese softshell turtle
A softshell turtle native to East Asia, widely farmed, with a leathery shell, strong jaws, and preference for rivers, ponds, and muddy bottoms.
- Indian flapshell turtle
A freshwater turtle from South Asia, recognized by skin flaps covering limbs, adapted to ponds and rivers, feeding on plants, insects, and carrion.
- Matamata turtle
A unique freshwater turtle with a flat head and leaf-like appearance, living in South American rivers, using suction feeding to catch fish.
- Pig-nosed turtle
A rare freshwater turtle with a pig-like snout and flippers, native to Australia and New Guinea, adapted for swimming in rivers and lagoons.
- Snake-necked turtle
A turtle with an extremely long neck used to catch prey quickly, found in Australia and nearby regions, living in freshwater habitats.
- Fly River turtle
Also called pig-nosed turtle, a freshwater species from New Guinea rivers, known for flipper-like limbs and strong swimming ability.
- Reeves’ turtle
A small freshwater turtle native to East Asia, often kept as a pet, living in ponds and streams, feeding on plants and small aquatic animals.
- Russian tortoise
A small land tortoise from Central Asia, adapted to dry climates, known for burrowing behavior and feeding mainly on grasses and leafy plants.
- Greek tortoise
A land tortoise found in southern Europe and the Middle East, with a domed shell, slow movement, and a herbivorous diet.
- Hermann’s tortoise
A small Mediterranean tortoise with a strong domed shell, living in forests and grasslands, feeding on grasses, leaves, and flowers.
- Sulcata tortoise
One of the largest tortoise species, native to Africa, adapted to hot, dry environments, known for burrowing and eating grasses.
- Leopard tortoise
A large African tortoise with a spotted shell pattern, living in grasslands and savannas, feeding mainly on grasses and low vegetation.
- Red-footed tortoise
A tropical land tortoise from South America, recognized by red markings on legs, living in forests and feeding on plants, fruits, and flowers.
Common Types of Turtles Breeds with their Names and images
Turtles Breeds Types and Name
- Yellow-footed tortoise
- Galapagos tortoise
- Aldabra tortoise
- Pancake tortoise
- Egyptian tortoise
- Star tortoise
- Radiated tortoise
- Burmese star tortoise
- Marginated tortoise
- Desert tortoise
- Gopher tortoise
- Texas tortoise
- Bolson tortoise
- Chaco tortoise
- Forest turtle
- Mountain tortoise
- Freshwater turtle
- Marine turtle
- Land turtle
- River turtle
Explore Turtles Breeds Types and Names
- Yellow-footed tortoise
A large tropical land tortoise from South America, recognized by yellow scales on its legs, living in forests and feeding on fruits, plants, and fallen vegetation.
- Galapagos tortoise
The largest living tortoise species, native to the Galapagos Islands, known for long lifespan, massive shell, slow movement, and feeding mainly on grasses and plants.
- Aldabra tortoise
A giant tortoise from the Aldabra Atoll, famous for its size and longevity, living on islands and feeding mostly on grasses and leafy vegetation.
- Pancake tortoise
A small, flat-shelled tortoise from East Africa, adapted to rocky areas, using narrow crevices for shelter rather than burrowing.
- Egyptian tortoise
A small desert tortoise native to North Africa, adapted to hot, dry conditions, feeding on grasses and low-growing plants.
- Star tortoise
A land tortoise with star-shaped patterns on its shell, native to South Asia, living in grasslands and forests, feeding on grasses and vegetation.
- Radiated tortoise
A critically endangered tortoise from Madagascar, known for bright radiating shell patterns, living in dry forests and feeding on plants and grasses.
- Burmese star tortoise
A rare tortoise native to Myanmar, recognized by star-like shell markings, adapted to dry zones, feeding mainly on grasses and herbs.
- Marginated tortoise
A large Mediterranean tortoise with flared rear shell edges, living in rocky hills and grasslands, feeding on grasses and leafy plants.
- Desert tortoise
A burrowing land tortoise from North American deserts, adapted to extreme heat, surviving on sparse vegetation and storing water efficiently.
- Gopher tortoise
A land tortoise native to the southeastern United States, known for digging deep burrows that provide shelter for many other animals.
- Texas tortoise
A small desert tortoise found in southern Texas and Mexico, living in dry habitats and feeding on grasses, cacti, and native plants.
- Bolson tortoise
A large tortoise native to northern Mexico, adapted to desert grasslands, known for burrowing behavior and herbivorous feeding.
- Chaco tortoise
A South American tortoise found in dry forests and scrublands, adapted to seasonal climates and feeding mainly on plants and fallen fruits.
- Forest turtle
A general term for turtles living in forested freshwater or moist land habitats, adapted to shaded environments and feeding on plants and small animals.
- Mountain tortoise
A land tortoise adapted to higher elevations, living in cooler, rocky environments, feeding on alpine plants and grasses.
- Freshwater turtle
A turtle species that lives mainly in rivers, lakes, and ponds, adapted for swimming and feeding on aquatic plants and animals.
- Marine turtle
A sea-dwelling turtle adapted for ocean life, with flippers for swimming, long migrations, and feeding on jellyfish, plants, or marine animals.
- Land turtle
Another term for tortoises, living on land with sturdy legs, domed shells, and a diet mainly consisting of plants and vegetation.
- River turtle
A freshwater turtle that lives in flowing rivers, adapted for strong swimming, basking on banks, and feeding on aquatic plants and small animals.
Explore Turtles Breeds Types and Names
