Nature Field Guide
Painted Wood Turtle
- Spanish name
- Tortuga de bosque pintada
- Scientific name
- Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima
What Do Pico & Tati Think?
Pico and Tati invite you to learn about the painted wood turtle. Compare its walking feet with a sea turtle’s flippers using photographs. How does each shape suit its habitat?
Species overview
About the Painted Wood Turtle
A wood turtle with colorful head and limb markings. The Costa Rican form is often called Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima manni; it belongs to the same species used for this card’s permanent ID.
Identification
Key Features of the Painted Wood Turtle
Domed brown shell with variable markings.
Red or orange markings around the head and limbs.
Walking feet rather than sea-turtle flippers.
Habitat & range
Northwestern Pacific Costa Rica, south toward the Tarcoles and Carara area. Uses seasonally dry woodland, scrub and moist gallery forest near streams. The reviewed natural-range sources do not support a general South Pacific assignment.
Local observations
Recorded in Costa Rica. This profile describes suitable habitat, not a confirmed Tamarindo sighting or a guaranteed viewing location.
When to observe
Activity depends on moisture and temperature; sightings are not guaranteed.
Conservation & care
Watch wildlife with an adult from a safe path. Do not touch, feed, capture or move reptiles, and keep pets away. Leave eggs, shelters and vegetation undisturbed.
Observation activity
Compare its walking feet with a sea turtle’s flippers using photographs. How does each shape suit its habitat?
Explore by location
Central Pacific · Guanacaste · Puntarenas & the Gulf Islands · Guanacaste · Puntarenas