General Information
Reptiles make up a broad class of animals—not a single species, but a diverse group that includes turtles, snakes, lizards, and more. As vertebrates, they have a backbone. Reptiles are also ectothermic, or cold-blooded, meaning they rely on external heat to regulate their body temperature. Many reptiles are protected by scales or bony plates called scutes. Almost all lay soft-shelled eggs. You can find reptiles in nearly every type of habitat, except for polar ice and tundra.
Meet Our Reptiles
10 reptiles currently live behind the scenes in the Reptile Room inside the Wildlife Resource Center at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and all also serve as animal ambassadors, making regular visits to students during our education programs.
Common Map Turtle: Atlas
Common map turtles can be found basking in the sun in large bodies of water across southeast Canada and the eastern and southeastern United States. They eat small crustaceans like shrimp, along with snails, insect larvae, and potentially carrion. Females are almost twice as large as males. Like most turtles, incubation temperature determines sex, with warmer temperatures producing females and cooler temperatures producing males. They have light-colored markings along their shells, like lines on a map, which is where their name originates.
Atlas came to the Museum as an adult in August 2016. Because of that, her birthday is unknown. She joined us from the Herps Alive Foundation after it was determined she would be unable to be released into the wild.
Lifespan:
Wild: 15–20 years
In human care: Up to 30 years
Common Snapping Turtle: King Koopa
As Ohio’s largest turtle species, the common snapping turtle can grow to 35 pounds. These turtles live across North America in fresh or brackish bodies of water. Their diet consists of small mammals and birds, fish, amphibians, other reptiles, and plants. In the winter, they go into brumation, a hibernation-like state of dormancy, by burying themselves deep below ground. Unlike many other turtles, they cannot pull their bodies into their shells for protection, so they will hiss and release a foul-smelling odor to wardn off predators.
King Koopa arrived at the Museum in 2014. He spent the first two years of his life being raised by a family member of a Museum educator. As a result, he did not develop the skills needed to survive and was deemed unreleasable.
Lifespan:
Wild: Usually 30–40, with some living over 100 years
In human care: 20–50 years
Eastern Box Turtle: Balto, Bento, and Chip
The Museum houses three eastern box turtles. These turtles are omnivores, consuming a wide variety of insects, fruits, and vegetables, as well as small amphibians, carrion, and other reptiles. Eastern box turtles live across most of the eastern United States in woodland habitats. They use their strong sense of sight and smell to locate their food along with hiding from predators. Box turtles get their name from their ability to pull their hinged lower shell up to meet the upper shell, forming a protective “box.”
Balto and Chip arrived at the Museum in 1998 as adults. Both were raised in human care and kept as pets. Once their owners could no longer keep them, they came to the Museum. Bento joined them in March 2025. Bento lived in Wisconsin before his previous owners surrendered him to the Herps Alive Foundation, and he was transferred to the Museum.
Lifespan:
Wild: 30–40 years
In human care: Up to 100 years
Eastern Fox Snake: Cleo
Eastern fox snakes are usually found east of the Mississippi River in wetlands and meadows. Although excellent climbers and swimmers, they spend most of their time on the ground. Their name originates from a musky secretion they spray when annoyed or threatened, which supposedly smells like fox musk. They eat rodents, frogs, birds, and eggs. If startled, eastern fox snakes may “rattle” their tail—similarly to rattlesnakes—to ward off potential predators.
Cleo became an animal ambassador in June 2019. She was left anonymously at the Ohio Division of Wildlife. They determined she had previously been a pet and could not be released in the wild on her own. She then made her permanent home here at the Museum.
Lifespan:
Wild: 10–12 years
In human care: Up to 17 years
Gray Rat Snake: Linguine
Gray rat snakes are one of the longest species of snakes in North America and can reach up to 8 feet in length! They’re mainly located in forests, swamps, and agricultural fields, but may also be seen in suburban neighborhoods. Gray rat snakes can be found both on the ground and in trees as they are skilled climbers. They eat small amphibians along with rodents, birds, and eggs. When threatened, these snakes will “rattle” their tails by shaking them on dry leaves or other objects to sound like a rattlesnake, warding off the predator.
Linguine joined the Museum in October 2019 at just 2 months old. He was hatched in human care at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes in Shaker Heights. From there, he transferred to the Museum for his permanent home.
Lifespan:
Wild: 10–15 years
In human care: Up to 25 years
Painted Turtle: Picasso
According to fossil evidence, painted turtles have existed for 15 million years! They are the most widespread native turtle in North America—living from southern Canada all the way to northern Mexico. Painted turtles are very social and can be seen in large groups, with as many as 50 basking on a single log. They mainly eat plants and small animals like fish, crustaceans, and aquatic insects while living in ponds, lakes, and rivers with soft, muddy bottoms. In the winter, painted turtles enter brumation, like many other turtles.
Picasso came to the Museum in August 2016, around the same time as Atlas, the common map turtle. She was rescued by Herps Alive Foundation based in South Euclid, Ohio. Picasso now spends her time acting as an ambassador for her species.
Lifespan:
Wild: 20–30 years
In human care: 25–30 years, with some living almost 50 years
Western Hognose Snake: One-Eyed Willie
Western hognose snakes live across North America from Canada to Mexico. They feed predominantly on amphibians but also eat mice and birds, plus other snakes and reptile eggs. Western hognose snakes reside in open prairies, meadows, and flood plains. When threatened, they mock strike at the threat with their mouth closed, and if that doesn't work, they will convulse on their back, thrash their head, and pretend to die. Although western hognose snakes are mildly venomous, they are not dangerous to humans.
Born and raised in human care, One-Eyed Willie lived as a personal pet of a Wildlife staff member at the Museum before taking up permanent residence in the Reptile Room at the Museum.
Lifespan:
Wild: 9–19 years
In human care: 15–20 years on average, with some living 20+ years
Wood Turtle: Princess Peach
Wood turtles can be found across the northeastern United States into Canada. They generally live in streams and rivers with sand or gravel bottoms but sometimes thrive in forests and grasslands if they are nearby flowing water. Unlike the painted turtle, wood turtles live solitary lives and tend to feed alone. They eat a variety of plants and animal matter, such as berries, mushrooms, fish, snails, slugs, and more. Wood turtles also undergo brumation.
Princess Peach has been at the Museum since November 2017. She arrived as an adult after being taken from the wild and kept as a pet before being surrendered to the Rocky River Nature Center. Removing animals from the wild can prevent them from developing the skills they need to survive. Due to this, Princess Peach could not be released.
Lifespan:
Wild: ~40 years
In human care: 40–58 years
