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spotted turtle
noun
: a freshwater turtle (Clemmys guttata) of the eastern U.S. that has a blackish carapace with round yellow spots
Examples of spotted turtle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The man shipped or received at least four packages of amphibians, which contained Eastern Box and spotted turtles and Asian warty, fire belly and native Californian newts, prosecutors said.
—Elise Fisher, Sacramento Bee, 25 June 2024
Some folks even catch glimpses of critters like the endangered spotted turtle or the massasauga rattlesnake.
—Jamie Clarkson, The Enquirer, 22 June 2021
The spotted turtle is a semiaquatic turtle native to the eastern U.S. and the Great Lakes region.
—Jeremy Beaman, Washington Examiner, 6 Apr. 2021
The species taken included: Florida box turtles, Eastern box turtles, striped mud turtles, Florida mud turtles, chicken turtles, Florida softshell turtles, Gulf Coast spiny softshell turtles, spotted turtles and diamondback terrapins.
—Fox News, 19 Oct. 2019
Ride a longboat down the Tiputini River with an indigenous guide, who will help us spot turtles, tapirs, and caimans bobbing at the water’s surface.
—National Geographic, 10 Sep. 2019
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Word History
First Known Use
1868, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near spotted turtle
Cite this Entry
“Spotted turtle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spotted%20turtle. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
spotted turtle
noun
: a small freshwater turtle of the eastern U.S. with a blackish shell covered with round yellow spots
More from Merriam-Webster on spotted turtle
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spotted turtle
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