Choose the description that best fits the animal of interest.
If none fit go back to step one.
   
A.  Large, massive, freshwater turtle, head is large with somewhat 
hooked upper jaw, carapace has three rows of  low knobs and is 
serrated at the rear, plastron greatly reduced forming a cross-shape,  
tail as long or longer than carapace with saw-tooth keels.

             Chelydridae (Snapping Turtle Family) 
             one species in Canada:
             Chelydra serpentina (Snapping Turtle) 


B.  Sea turtle, can grow to 1-2 m in length, carapace hard-shelled,
front legs modified into flippers.
             
             Cheloniidae (Marine Turtle Family) 

   
C.  Sea turtle, can grow to 2 m in length, carapace covered with 
ridged leathery skin, front legs modified into flippers.
  
             Dermochelyidae (Leatherback Sea Turtle Family)
             one species in the world:
             Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback)     


D.  Freshwater turtle, the spotted carapace is round, flat and 
covered with leathery skin, snout is tubular.
  
             Trionychidae (Softshell Turtle Family)
             one species in Canada:
             Apalone spinifera (Spiny Softshell)  
  

E.  Small freshwater turtle always less than 15 cm in length, 
light stripe above and below the eye, carapace highly domed and narrow, 
plastron reduced in size, may emit strong musky odour when disturbed, 
juveniles have keeled carapace but this is lost with maturity.
             
             Kinosternidae (Musk and Mud Turtle Family)
             one species in Canada:
             Sternotherus odoratus (Common Musk Turtle)    

  
F.  Freshwater turtle, head is relatively small and upper jaw not 
hooked, carapace not leathery and generally forms a low arch, but 
may be domed, some species have a vertebral keel, plastron is large.

             Emydidae (Pond and Marsh Turtle Family)