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BACKGROUND
But first, here' s a background about PAINTED TURTLES (the species of turtles that we caught). The painted turtle is also known as Chrysemy's picta. It is a reptile commonly found in wetlands. They are shy and reclusive. they get their name from the red and yellow markings on its shell that look like paint. Their size ranges from 80 to 150 mm. They are aquatic and ectothermic (cold-blooded). Furthermore, they cannot shed their shell as it is part of it. In fact, its shell is its ribs.
As young turtles, their diet is mostly coniverous as they eat maggots, larvae and beetles. As they mature, their diet turns omniverous and their diet expands to include: snails, insects, crayfish, leeches, tadpoles, small fish and various aquatic plants. As they do not have teeth, the painted turtles doesn't chew. instead it uses its powerful beak to slice apart food and then gulp the bits using its strong throat muscles. The Painted Turtle habit in North America (its native home) ranges from northern Canada to southern Mexico.
FACTS ABOUT THE PAINTED TURTLES WE CAUGHT
I. Sutherland Pond (natural pond)
Species: Painted Turtle
Recap ( a turtle that we had caught before)
Sex: male (how to tell: vent on the underside of the tail was past the shell, long
claws)
Markings (file notches) L11 R7
Height: 46 mm
Length:
Shell: 143 mm
Plastron: 133 mm
Width: 106 mm
Weight: 339 grams
II. ALEC MEADOW RESERVOIR (man-made pond)
A. Species: Painted Turtle
Sex: Female (short claws, vent on her tail doesn't go past the shell)
New Turtle, never has been marked
Markings: L12 R4 R8
Length:
Shell: 145 mm
Plastron: 136 mm
Width: 105 mm
Height: 52 mm
Weight: 382 grams
B. Species: Painted Turtle
Sex: Female (short claws, vent on her tail doesn't go past the shell)
Recap
Markings: L4 R4 R8
Length:
Shell: 105 mm
Plastron: 105 mm
Width: 87 mm
Height: 39 mm
Weight: 175 grams
C. Species: Painted Turtle
Sex: Male
Recap
Markings: L11 R7 R8
Length:
Shell: 144 mm
Plastron: 109 mm
Width: 88 mm
Height: 42 mm
Weight: 223 grams
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