Western chicken turtles inhabit shallow, temporary wetlands including seasonal ponds and marshes in the south-central United States. Because they require both wetland and upland habitats, western chicken turtles are highly sensitive to habitat fragmentation. Populations are also declining due to wetland drainage and road mortality.

The egg-shaped carapace (top half of the shell) is rough textured and tends to be olive to brown in color with a faint cream, yellow, or orange netlike pattern. The rim of the shell is bordered with yellow. The plastron, or bottom half of the shell, is yellow and unmarked except for a few dark marks along the seams of the scutes (individual plates that comprise the shell). The head is small, and the front legs have a wide yellow stripe down the front. The hind legs are striped with alternating light and dark lines on the rear surface.

The western chicken turtle is a small to medium-sized freshwater turtle that is easily identified by its extraordinarily long, striped neck. The tail is relatively short, with the tail of the male noticeably longer than that of the female. This turtle is often observed basking on or near water, but can also be encountered traveling on land. Though generally shy, individuals may bite when intimidated.

Western chicken turtles can live up to 40 years and don’t reproduce until they’re more than 6 years old. It is one of the few turtles in the United States known to nest in both the fall and spring, an adaptation that aligns with the seasonal nature of its wetland habitats. These turtles may even go dormant during dry periods.