This week we are featuring the Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta ssp. marginata) as our #SpeciesOfTheWeek. The Midland Painted Turtle is one of five turtles that call Murphys Point home and can be distinguished from other turtles based on a few different characteristics. For starters, the shell of the Painted Turtle is much flatter than other turtle species and the red and yellow markings along the shell and body look much like paint strokes. One of the main factors impacting the decline of turtle species is their late maturity. For the Midland Painted Turtle, it can take upwards of six years for the males to reach sexual maturity and around six to ten years for females. As such, every turtle counts when only 0.001% of hatchlings make it to maturity. From as early as mid-August to late September, turtle eggs may begin to hatch so keeping an eye out on roadways is an important step to protect these threatened species.