Description of the Blanding's Turtle
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http://www.speciesatrisk.ca/stewardship/BlandingsTurtle.html http://www.arkive.org/blandings-turtle/emydoidea-blandingii/ http://frametoframe.ca/birds-animals/wildlife/types-turtles-sighted-ontario/ http://www.earthrangers.com/wildwire/take-action/blandings-turtle-2/ http://fineartamerica.com/featured/blandings-turtle-jennifer-king.html |
Species Name:
Common Name: Blanding's Turtle Scientific Name: Emydoidea blandingii COSEWIC Assignment: Assessment Date: May 2005 (8) Designation: Threatened (8) Reason for Designation: Limited distribution within province; the population's uneven age structure; and the low rate of recruitment into the breeding population (10). Physical Description: The blanding's turtle belongs to the reptile population (8). This turtle is known for its bright yellow jaw and throat, with the plastron, or underside, of its shell also being yellow. The top side of the shell is black or dark brown, with yellow lines and spots scattered on it (8). The shell is dome-shaped and is positioned around the turtle so that it is able to completely close the shell after pulling in its legs and head. |
Habitat and Reproduction:
The Blanding's Turtle requires various habitat conditions, based on age and season of the year. These turtles spend the spring and summer months in vegetated wetlands, ponds, shallow lakes and rivers (4). During these seasons, they can been seen basking on rocks or logs. These vegetated aquatic areas are also very suitable for turtles of reproductive age, between fourteen and twenty years, to mate and reproduce (4). Reproduction generally occurs in late April or early May.
After mating season, the female turtles will travel about one kilometer from this vegetated habitat to lay their eggs (4). They will search for sandy beaches, pond or river shorelines, or gravel roads to lay their eggs. The female turtles provide no care for their young. They return to the wetland or pond, and leave the baby turtles to hatch and survive on their own (4).
The eggs typically hatch in late September or early October. Because it is difficult to find food during the fall months, the hatchlings remain in their eggs as long as possible (4). During the fall and winter months, the adult and young Blanding's Turtles hibernate underwater, burying themselves in mud or sand in the wetlands. This protected the turtles from freezing and water loss; however, Blanding's Turtles can survive with some of their body tissues freezing during the winter, so some of these turtles bury themselves in moist soil on land during the winter (4).
When the season of spring arrives again, the cycle begins again, starting with the turtles in the wetlands.
The Blanding's Turtle requires various habitat conditions, based on age and season of the year. These turtles spend the spring and summer months in vegetated wetlands, ponds, shallow lakes and rivers (4). During these seasons, they can been seen basking on rocks or logs. These vegetated aquatic areas are also very suitable for turtles of reproductive age, between fourteen and twenty years, to mate and reproduce (4). Reproduction generally occurs in late April or early May.
After mating season, the female turtles will travel about one kilometer from this vegetated habitat to lay their eggs (4). They will search for sandy beaches, pond or river shorelines, or gravel roads to lay their eggs. The female turtles provide no care for their young. They return to the wetland or pond, and leave the baby turtles to hatch and survive on their own (4).
The eggs typically hatch in late September or early October. Because it is difficult to find food during the fall months, the hatchlings remain in their eggs as long as possible (4). During the fall and winter months, the adult and young Blanding's Turtles hibernate underwater, burying themselves in mud or sand in the wetlands. This protected the turtles from freezing and water loss; however, Blanding's Turtles can survive with some of their body tissues freezing during the winter, so some of these turtles bury themselves in moist soil on land during the winter (4).
When the season of spring arrives again, the cycle begins again, starting with the turtles in the wetlands.