Which turtle can survive freezing solid during winter?

The painted turtle can survive freezing during winter, especially as a hatchling in its underground nest. Its body fluids may freeze partly, yet the turtle can recover when temperatures rise in spring.

This remarkable adaptation is associated with painted turtles in the genus Chrysemys picta. Experiments have shown hatchlings surviving with roughly half of their total body water converted to ice under controlled conditions. Their metabolism slows dramatically, limiting the damage caused by oxygen shortage and cold.

The popular wording “freeze solid” needs a little context. Not every painted turtle survives every freezing event, and many hatchlings avoid freezing altogether by supercooling—their body fluids remain liquid below water’s normal freezing point. Adults generally overwinter underwater and rely primarily on cold tolerance and the ability to withstand long periods with little oxygen. This is why the painted turtle is often cited as one of the most cold-hardy reptiles.