The Wood turtle’s carapace (top shell) has a sculpted appearance, with irregular pyramidal shaped scutes (enlarged scales on the shell) and the rear of the carapace is serrated. They have distinct orange colouring on their neck and forelegs and can inhabit a diverse range of areas depending on the season. They are omnivorous and are usually associated with meandering streams with sandy or gravelly bottoms. Wood turtles are more terrestrial than many other turtles, spending a great deal of time on land, usually within 300 metres of water. Individuals can reach a carapace length of 23 centimetres.