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 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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spotted turtle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spotted turtle was in 1868

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 19 Mar. 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

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